Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel

Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel

Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel: Former OECD Chief Economist & Global Macroeconomic Authority

Core Intelligence Domain: Economics
Location: Santiago, Chile | Languages: English, Spanish, German
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel is a globally recognised economist, academic, and corporate advisor whose strategic foresight and deep structural understanding of macroeconomic policy have shaped financial frameworks on a worldwide scale. As the former Chief Economist of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and Director of its Economics Department in Paris, he has unparalleled experience in steering international economic policy, forecasting global growth, and advising multinational bodies during critical periods of market volatility.

Prior to his leadership at the OECD, Schmidt-Hebbel served for more than a decade as the Chief Economic Researcher at the Central Bank of Chile, playing a pivotal role in the country’s monetary policy and financial stabilisation programmes. His extensive career also includes serving as Principal Economist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., where he designed proprietary frameworks for macroeconomic analysis, structural reform, and emerging market resilience.

Today, Klaus Schmidt-Hebbel holds prestigious academic tenures, serving as a Professor of Economics at both the Universidad del Desarrollo and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He is a highly sought-after strategic consultant, having advised over 30 governments, central banks, and international organisations—including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Furthermore, his boardroom acumen is highly regarded; he serves as an independent director on the boards of major corporations, banks, and pension funds across Latin America, applying his rigorous analytical methodologies to corporate governance, capital market strategies, and enterprise risk management.

Major Career Achievements

• Served as Chief Economist and Director of the Economics Department at the OECD, leading global macroeconomic forecasting and policy recommendations.
• Former Chief Economic Researcher at the Central Bank of Chile, instrumental in shaping modern inflation-targeting frameworks.
• Extensive advisory footprint, consulting for over 30 countries and major multinational institutions including the World Bank, IMF, and regional development banks.
• Authored over 130 highly cited publications and 15 books focusing on capital markets, pension systems, economic growth, monetary policy, and international finance.
• Voted “Economist of the Year” by his peers, the business community, and leading national publications in Chile.
• Former President of the Chilean Economic Association and an active, influential board member for numerous leading financial institutions.

Key Speaking Themes & Strategic Frameworks

• Global Macroeconomic Outlook: Navigating shifting geopolitical landscapes, inflation trajectories, and global growth dynamics.
• Monetary Policy and Central Banking: Strategic frameworks for financial stability, interest rate normalisation, and navigating currency markets.
• Pension Systems and Capital Markets: Designing sustainable, resilient retirement frameworks and analysing their direct impact on capital market depth and national savings.
• The Future of Latin American Economies: Analysing structural reforms, foreign direct investment opportunities, and rigorous risk assessment in emerging markets.
• Fiscal Policy and Sovereign Wealth: Long-term strategic planning for national economic resilience, sovereign fund management, and sovereign debt sustainability.

Key Takeaways

• Unparalleled Institutional Authority: Delivers intelligence drawn directly from top-tier global economic governance, combining insights from the OECD, World Bank, and central banking.
• Data-Driven Strategic Foresight: Empowers corporate boards, institutional investors, and policymakers with rigorous, evidence-based economic forecasting to mitigate risk and identify growth vectors.
• Specialised Expertise in Pension Reform: Globally renowned for structurally designing robust financial safety nets and evaluating their overarching macroeconomic impact.
• Tailored Global and Regional Analysis: Seamlessly connects global macroeconomic shifts with localised operational realities, providing actionable, C-suite intelligence for global enterprises.