Ploutarchos Sakellaris

Ploutarchos Sakellaris is a Professor at the Department of Economics of the School of Economics at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), currently working in a part-time capacity through August 31, 2025. He has held prominent positions including Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) from 2008-2012, Chairman of the Council of Economic Experts at the Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance, and served as Deputy to the Finance Minister at Eurogroup and ECOFIN Councils of the EU.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor's (BA) in Economics and Computer Science from Brandeis University, summa cum laude, with highest honors
• Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University

Professor Sakellaris' research spans multiple areas of economics and finance, with particular focus on banking, corporate finance, macroeconomics, business cycles, economic growth, and education. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of real-world economic phenomena, particularly examining how firms respond to financial crises and macroeconomic shocks. His research has significant policy implications, informed by his extensive experience in high-level economic institutions.

His recent publications show a clear trend toward analyzing firm-level responses to economic shocks, particularly during financial crises. His work combines sophisticated econometric techniques with rich datasets to examine investment behavior, financing constraints, and the transmission of macroeconomic shocks to the real economy. A significant portion of his recent work focuses on the Greek economic crisis, providing valuable insights into depression dynamics and recovery mechanisms through firm-level data analysis.

Professional appointments reflecting his expertise include:

• Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (2008-2012), overseeing Risk Management and Economic Research
• Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers at the Greek Ministry of Economy and Finance
• Member of the EU's Economic and Fiscal Committee and Euro Working Group
• Deputy Governor for Greece at the World Bank
• Former economist at the Federal Reserve Board
• Visiting expert at the European Central Bank

Professor Sakellaris has supervised numerous graduate students and contributed to major research projects, including a HFRI-funded project on 'Direct Stimulus Payments to Individuals in the COVID-19 Pandemic.' His dual expertise in academic research and high-level policy implementation makes him a valuable mentor for students interested in both theoretical and applied economics.

Outside his academic role, Professor Sakellaris serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director at Cepal Hellas (where he chairs the Audit Committee) and ElvalHalcor (where he chairs the Remuneration and Nominations Committee), and serves on the Scientific Council of the Hellenic Parliamentary Budget Office.