Daniel Leigh
Last Updated: June 9, 2025
Daniel Leigh is Mission Chief for Brazil and Advisor in the IMF's Western Hemisphere Department. Earlier, he headed the World Economic Studies division in the IMF's Research Department, which produces the World Economic Outlook (WEO), and the Open Economy Macroeconomics Division, which produces the External Sector Report. In previous roles, he was Deputy Division Chief in the Western Hemisphere Department, where he covered the United States and served as Mission Chief for Belize and Suriname. He also served as Assistant to the Director of the Research Department, and covered Gabon and Peru in the Fiscal Affairs Department. His research interests are in international macroeconomics, with a focus on fiscal and monetary policy and forecasting. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Johns Hopkins University and an M.Sc. in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Email: DLEIGH@imf.org
Fluent In: Czech, French, Spanish.
Education:
Ph.D., Economics, Johns Hopkins University, 1999-2004
M.Sc., Economics, London School of Economics, 1998-1999
B.A. (First Class Honours), Economics, University of Manchester, 1994-1998
Previous Experience:
International Monetary Fund, Research Department: Senior Economist (World Economic Studies division), 2009-2012.
International Monetary Fund, Fiscal Affairs Department: Economist (Fiscal Policy division), 2006-2009; Economist Program (Fiscal Policy division), 2005-2006.
International Monetary Fund, European Department: Economist Program (Hungary and Lithuania country assignments), 2004-2005.
International Monetary Fund. European Department: Summer Intern (2002). Estimated effect of exchange rate fluctuations on inflation in Turkey and developed inflation forecasting model.
Inter-American Development Bank. Research Department: Summer Intern (2001). Investigated effect of currency union on trade with a focus on EMU.
Field of Expertise:
Public Finance
Open Economy Macroeconomics
Monetary Policy
Labor Economics