Kenneth Rogoff

Kenneth Rogoff is Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy at Harvard and former chief economist of the IMF. With Carmen Reinhart, he co-authored "This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly" (2009), which analyzed 800 years of sovereign default, banking crises, and hyperinflation episodes across 66 countries. The book became essential reading after the 2008 crisis. Rogoff has also contributed research on international monetary theory, exchange rate dynamics, and the case for eliminating large denomination currency bills to combat tax evasion. His 2016 book "The Curse of Cash" developed this argument more fully, examining how large denomination notes facilitate tax avoidance, black markets, and crime, and proposing a phased elimination of high-denomination currency as a policy tool. Rogoff is also notable for being a chess grandmaster, having reached among the top rankings in the world before concentrating on economics — a rare combination that reflects both his analytical rigor and competitive drive.