Jason Furman

Jason Furman
Born	18 8, 1970
Birthplace	New York City, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Economist, professor, policy advisor
Title	Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy
Employer	Harvard Kennedy School
Known for	Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (2013–2017)
Education	Harvard University (BA, MA, PhD) London School of Economics (MSc)
Spouse(s)	Eve Gerber
Children	3

Jason Furman (born August 18, 1970) is an American economist and professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he holds the position of Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy. He is a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. On June 10, 2013, President Barack Obama named Furman as the 28th chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), a position he held from August 2, 2013, until January 20, 2017. Prior to that appointment, Furman served as deputy director of the National Economic Council and as an economic advisor during the 2008 Obama presidential campaign. Born and raised in New York City, Furman earned degrees from Harvard University and the London School of Economics before building a career that spanned academia, think tanks, and government service. A frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Project Syndicate, and the editor of two books on economic policy, Furman has become one of the more prominent voices in American economic policy debates, contributing commentary on topics ranging from trade policy and tariffs to artificial intelligence and Federal Reserve governance.

Early Life

Jason Furman was born on August 18, 1970, in New York City. He grew up in the city and was noted in press profiles for having learned to juggle knives as a young man, a detail that became a recurring anecdote in media coverage of his career. Furman's upbringing in New York City placed him in proximity to the financial and intellectual centers that would later shape his career in economics and public policy.

A 2008 profile in New York magazine identified Furman as part of a new generation of policy-oriented economists who combined academic rigor with practical experience in government. The Fiscal Times later published a profile detailing lesser-known aspects of Furman's background when he was appointed to lead the CEA, noting elements of his personal history that had not been widely reported.

Education

Furman received his undergraduate education at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently attended the London School of Economics, where he obtained a Master of Science (MSc) degree. Furman then returned to Harvard, where he earned both a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in economics. His extensive academic training at two of the world's leading institutions in economics provided the foundation for a career that would move fluidly between the academy, policy research organizations, and the highest levels of government economic advising.

Career

Early Career and Think Tank Work

Before entering government service, Furman held positions at several prominent policy institutions and universities. He served on the faculty of New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where he was listed as a member of the economics faculty. Furman was also a scholar at the Brookings Institution, one of Washington's oldest and most established think tanks, where he was involved in policy research and analysis.

During his time at Brookings, Furman contributed to and edited works on major domestic policy questions. He edited Who Has the Cure? Hamilton Project Ideas on Ensuring Value in Health Care Spending, a volume that examined approaches to health care policy and spending efficiency. He also edited Path to Prosperity: Hamilton Project Ideas on Income Security, Education, and Taxes, which addressed questions of income security, educational policy, and tax reform. Both volumes were published as part of the Hamilton Project, a Brookings initiative focused on advancing economic policy proposals.

Obama Campaign and National Economic Council

Furman's transition from the think tank world to government service began with his role as an economic advisor during the 2008 presidential campaign of Barack Obama. His work on the campaign brought him into the inner circle of economic policy advisors who would go on to shape the new administration's approach to the Great Recession and subsequent recovery.

Following Obama's election, Furman was appointed as deputy director of the National Economic Council (NEC), a White House office responsible for coordinating economic policy across federal agencies. In this role, Furman was involved in the administration's response to the financial crisis and the development of domestic economic policy during Obama's first term. His position at the NEC placed him at the center of policy discussions on fiscal stimulus, financial regulation, and economic recovery efforts.

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

On June 10, 2013, President Obama announced that he would nominate Furman to serve as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, succeeding Alan Krueger. The nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate, and Furman assumed the role on August 2, 2013. He served as the 28th chair of the CEA, holding the position until the end of the Obama administration on January 20, 2017. He was succeeded by Kevin Hassett, who was appointed by President Donald Trump.

As CEA chair, Furman was responsible for providing the president with economic analysis and advice on the development and implementation of domestic and international economic policy. He oversaw the preparation of the annual Economic Report of the President and represented the administration's economic perspectives in public forums. During his tenure, Furman delivered numerous speeches and provided congressional testimony on topics including labor market conditions, fiscal policy, health care economics, and long-term economic growth.

Furman also authored policy analyses and blog posts through the official White House channels, communicating the administration's economic perspectives to a broader public audience.

A 2014 profile in The Washington Post described Furman as "the wonkiest wonk in the White House," noting his deep immersion in economic data and policy detail. The profile highlighted his reputation for data-driven analysis and his central role in the administration's economic messaging.

During his time as CEA chair, Furman engaged with emerging policy debates on topics such as universal basic income. In 2016, he addressed questions about the feasibility and implications of universal basic income proposals, contributing to a growing public discussion about the future of work and income support in the context of technological change.

Return to Academia and the Peterson Institute

After leaving the White House in January 2017, Furman returned to academia. He joined the faculty of the Harvard Kennedy School, where he holds the title of Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy. Since 2019, he has co-taught Economics 10, the year-long introductory economics course at Harvard, together with economist David Laibson.

Furman also became a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), a Washington-based think tank focused on international economic policy. The Peterson Institute announced his affiliation in a press release highlighting his government experience and academic credentials.

In addition to his teaching and research roles, Furman has served on the boards and advisory committees of several organizations. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Group of Thirty, and the Aspen Economic Strategy Group. He serves as a trustee of the Russell Sage Foundation and sits on the advisory boards for the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, the Bund Summit, the Hamilton Project, and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth.

Artificial Intelligence Policy

Furman has engaged with policy questions surrounding artificial intelligence. In 2017, he was reported to be part of the Partnership on AI, a collaborative effort that included civil rights organizations aimed at ensuring that AI development did not replicate or amplify existing biases and inequalities.

In October 2025, Furman authored an opinion piece in The New York Times examining the economic implications of the rapid growth in AI valuations, noting that OpenAI had achieved a market valuation exceeding that of Goldman Sachs and analyzing what this development meant for the broader economy and the potential for an economic bubble. In February 2026, Harvard Magazine reported on a discussion involving Harvard experts, including Furman, on the risks that AI expansion poses to the power grid, as surging energy demand from AI operations creates challenges for energy markets and infrastructure investment.

Public Commentary and Media Contributions

Following his return to academia, Furman became an increasingly prominent public commentator on economic policy. He is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Project Syndicate, and has authored numerous opinion pieces for The New York Times.

In January 2026, Furman wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times analyzing the economic consequences of President Trump's second-term economic policies, including sweeping tariffs and government restructuring efforts. Later that month, he participated in a New York Times debate among three economists regarding President Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve chair, where he raised concerns about the tone of Warsh's approach and questions about Federal Reserve independence.

Furman also published an essay in The Free Press in early 2026 outlining what he described as four rules for the incoming Federal Reserve chair, arguing that Kevin Warsh was a "good pick for the Fed" provided he was willing to maintain independence from political pressure.

In February 2026, he wrote in The New York Times about U.S. dollar policy, analyzing the implications of a weakening dollar in the context of President Trump's stated preference for a lower dollar value.

In November 2025, Furman participated in a New York Times debate with Oren Cass on how the Trump administration should approach trade relations with China, following a de-escalation in the trade war after a meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Furman's public commentary has also drawn critical responses. In December 2025, RealClearMarkets published a critique of Furman's economic views, arguing that his analysis reflected a flawed understanding of economic growth.

Personal Life

Jason Furman is married to Eve Gerber, and the couple have three children. Furman has been noted in press profiles for his interest in juggling, including knife juggling, a hobby he developed in his youth in New York City. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Legacy

Furman's career has spanned the principal institutions of American economic policymaking — from the Brookings Institution and NYU's Wagner School to the White House and Harvard Kennedy School. His tenure as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers during Obama's second term coincided with a period of sustained economic recovery following the Great Recession, and he played a role in the administration's public communication of economic data and policy positions.

As a professor at Harvard, Furman has influenced a new generation of economics students through his co-instruction of the introductory economics course, one of the largest and most prominent undergraduate courses at the university. His dual role as an academic and frequent media commentator has positioned him as one of the more visible economists in American public discourse, contributing analysis on major policy questions including trade, fiscal policy, artificial intelligence, and central bank governance.

Furman's work at the intersection of academic economics and government policy, along with his affiliations with institutions such as the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Group of Thirty, reflects a career built around the integration of economic research with practical policy application.