Short Bio

Mario Catalán is Deputy Chief in the Global Financial Stability Analysis Division of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is responsible for the Global Financial Stability Report. The division examines structural developments and risks in the global financial system, with a focus on systemic risk measurement and mitigation, analytical tools for use in multilateral and bilateral financial sector surveillance, and financial stability policies.

Mario joined the IMF in 2004 under the European Department and participated in article IV consultations with Spain, Israel, and Cyprus, focusing on macroeconomic surveillance, public finances, and the effects of pension reforms. He worked at the Institute for Capacity Development of the IMF during two separate stints (2007-2012 and 2020-2022), where he conducted research in macroeconomics and finance and was involved in training government and central bank officials from all over the world—in places such as Austria, Brazil, Korea, Singapore, South Africa, and United Arab Emirates.

From 2013 to 2020, Mario worked at the Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM) on the implementation of the IMF Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). He performed bank stress tests and assessed risks to financial stability in different countries, and was also financial sector economist for China in the article IV team (2017-19). FSAP operations in which Mario participated include Denmark (2020), Tanzania (2018), China (2017), Netherlands (2016), Guatemala (2014), Albania (2014), Argentina (2013), and Spain (2006). In addition, Mario led or participated in technical assistance missions to China (2018, 2019, 2020), Indonesia (2015), Nicaragua (2014), and Albania (2013).

Prior to joining the IMF, Mario was an assistant professor of international economics and finance at Johns Hopkins University, SAIS (2001-2004). During his career, he also lectured at the University of Paris, Dauphine and taught economics as an adjunct faculty at UCLA extension and as a visiting professor at the National University of Tucumán. Mario is a former consultant to the Financial Sector Development Department of the World Bank (1998-1999, 2003). He also worked as a research associate for the leading think tank “Fundación del Tucumán” in Argentina (1993-96), focusing on projects related to social issues, poverty and unemployment. He was recipient of the Fulbright-LASPAU fellowship (1997-1999), the UCLA Dissertation Year Fellowship (2000-2001), the UCLA Department of Economics Outstanding Teaching Award (1998-2000), and the Best Paper Award in the Global Finance Conference (2004).

Mario’s research interests and publications are in the fields of macro-financial economics, banking, pension reform, and capital markets development. He also has frequent speaking engagements in academic, government, and corporate conferences and events. Mario studied economics at the National University of Tucumán in Argentina and earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).