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Mario Arana

Former President, Central Bank of Nicaragua and current Director of Fundación Nicaragüense para el Desarrollo Económico y Social (Nicaragua)

Mario Arana

Residency: April 4–14, 2007

Residency Summary

Mario Arana discussed Nicaragua’s relationship with the U.S. during an informal lunch with students as well as guest lectured in the GPS economics class International Political Economy. His public lecture featured topics on free trade and Latin America.

Biography

Arana has held key positions in Nicaragua: President of the Central Bank (2007), minister of finance (2005 - 2006) and minister of development, industry, and trade (2002 – 2004). He led the negotiations of the free trade agreement with the U.S. and Central America. He was also governor at the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. As minister of the Technical Secretary of the Presidency, he coordinated the formulation and implementation of the Nicaraguan poverty-reduction strategy and public investment planning. Arana has published research on macroeconomic and adjustment policies, external debt, poverty and public expenditures on social programs. He earned a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.