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The Week in Germany: Current Affairs

February 2, 2007

In our continuing series on women leaders in Germany, we introduce one of Germany's top economic experts: Beatrice Weder di Mauro.

Beatrice Weder di Mauro: Swiss woman is one of Germany's Economic "Wise Men"

In a remarkable career, economist Beatrice Weder di Mauro has made it to the top of the world's leading economic consultants. For the past two years, the 41-year-old Swiss native has been a member of the group of Germany's so-called "Economic Wise Men," one of the most important consultancy committees of the German government in Berlin. Weder di Mauro is the first woman - and the first foreigner - called to the post.

Wise Man? Germany may have to come up with a new name for its top economic advisors.

Weder di Mauro grew up in Latin America and studied economics at the University of Basel. After completing her doctorate, she worked at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund among other institutions, and advised the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Nicaragua and Switzerland.

Since 2001, Weder di Mauro has been a professor at Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz where she holds the chair in economics with a focus on political economy and international macroeconomics.

Among political economists, Weder di Mauro is considered as "pragmatic," according to newspaper commentators. She has made her name with good work rather than by party politics, they say.

Although the polyglot scientist used to write as columnist for the Baseler Zeitung, she is considered publicity shy. In one of her few interviews, she told the daily Die Welt that the reform of the labour market was a top priority for her.

The German system was too rigid especially in regards to wage agreements and job protection, she said. Incentives to work for the unemployed also had to be improved, and structural barriers at capital markets had to be removed.

Weder di Mauro holds a Swiss as well as an Italian passport. She speaks fluent German, Italian, Spanish and English and has a knowledge of French, Japanese and Russian. She is married with one son. A sporting woman, she counts mountain climbing, rock climbing, and kayaking among her hobbies. And, she says, she "very much likes" being in Germany.

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