Yaakov Frenkel

economist

Yaakov Frenkel is a prominent Israeli economist known for his extensive career in academia and finance. Born in 1941, he served as a professor of economics at the University of Chicago and Tel Aviv University. Frenkel held significant positions, including the head of the research division at the International Monetary Fund and the chief economist for the G7 nations. He was appointed as the Governor of the Bank of Israel in 1999, a role he held for seven years after forgoing his American citizenship. Later, he held leadership roles in major American financial institutions, including AIG and JPMorgan, and was recognized for his contributions during the 2008 financial crisis. Recently, Frenkel has been active in protests advocating for a democratic and liberal Israel, expressing concerns about the future of the country amid political turmoil and economic uncertainty.