Gerasimos Arsenis

Gerasimos Arsenis ( _el. Γεράσιμος Αρσένης)Greek politician born in Cephalonia – Greece.He obtained a Law degree from the Law School of the University of Athens (1955) and pursued his post-graduate studies in economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, 1956-1960). His work on "The Two - Gap Analysis: A Proposal for North - South Cooperation" attracted attention in UNCTAD I (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 1964) and served as basis for negotiations especially with regard to (a) the preference schemes for Trade in Manufactures and (b) the 0.7% target for ODA (Official Development Assistance).Between the years 1960–1981, he served as economist in various posts in the United Nations and the OECD. Director of the Research Division of the OECD Development Centre in Paris (1964-1967) and Director at UNCTAD (1974-1981). He served as an expert of UNCTAD to the Ministerial Committee of Twenty on the Reform of the International Monetary System (1973) and later to the Interim Committee of IMF and the Development Committee of the World Bank, contributing to various proposals. He advised a number of Governments on issues concerning foreign exchange policy, external financing and debt rescheduling. In 1982, he was appointed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as member of the U.N. Committee of Development Planning, a post he maintained until 1992. In November 1981, he was appointed Governor of the Bank of Greece, a post he maintained until February 1984. During that period, he oversaw the liberalization of the Greek financial system and modernized financial regulations. In July 1982, he was appointed Minister of National Economy and in March 1984 assumed - in addition - the duties of Minister of Finance, posts he maintained until July 1985. In these capacities, he introduced the VAT, promoted decentralized development plans in the framework of participatory democracy, pursued policies for improving the competitiveness of the economy and established a Public Authority to bail out the ailing banking sector and to relieve the debt burden of over-indebted enterprises. In October 1993 he was appointed Minister of National Defense, a post he maintained until September 1996. He promoted the new Defense Dogma for Greece and Cyprus, restructured the Defense procurement and pursued policies of cooperation in the Defense area with a number of countries in the broader region. In September 1996 he was appointed Minister of National Education and Religious Affairs, a post he maintained until April 2000. During that period, he pursued a major reform throughout the education system, from kindergarten to life-long education. Member of the Hellenic Parliament, (PASOK, District of Athens 1985-2004, 2006-2008). In 1986, he led a newly created party, ESK, which failed in the national elections of 1989. He rejoined PASOK in 1989. Member of the Central Committee of PASOK since 1990 and member of the Executive Committee of PASOK (1990-1999). President of the Athens Development and Governance Institute (A.D.G.I. INERPOST) from January 21st 2005 to September 14th 2006. He speaks English and French. He is married to Louka Katseli, Professor of Economics at the University of Athens and State MP at the Hellenic Parliament (PASOK) and they have four children.