Jason Furman
Encyclopedia
Jason Furman is an economist and influential policy intellectual. On January 28, 2009, Furman was named Deputy Director of the National Economic Council in the administration of President Barack Obama
, whom he'd been advising since the latter stages of the 2008 presidential campaign. Although he generally works with Democrats, he is reported by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call to be widely respected by Republicans, as well. Matthew Yglesias has referred to him as Lawrence Summers
' "smart, hardworking, well-regarded deputy," and suggested that he replace Summers as head of the National Economic Council.
program. Furman's qualified defense of Wal-Mart's business model provoked criticism from some labor organizations when he joined Obama's 2008 campaign. But notable liberals defended Furman, praising his staunch defense of Social Security, criticism of inequality, and advocacy of universal health insurance.
In 1996, while he was a graduate student at Harvard, Furman was hired by economist Joseph Stiglitz to serve a one-year stint as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy in the Clinton Administration and on staff of the Council of Economic Advisers
. He later worked with Stiglitz at the World Bank
. Furman was involved to varying degrees with the Presidential campaigns of Al Gore
and General Wesley Clark. In 2004, he took a position as Director of Economic Policy for the John Kerry
Presidential campaign in 2004.
Furman received an MSc from the London School of Economics
and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University
. Also at Harvard, Furman earned a bachelor's in social studies and a master's in government. He has worked with former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin
.
In recent years, Furman has worked as a budget expert at the Brookings Institution
. There, he directed the Hamilton Project, an economic policy research group that develops policy proposals to achieve shared economic growth.
He was a Visiting Scholar at New York University
's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He has been a visiting lecturer at Columbia and Yale Universities.
He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, Eve Gerber, and their two children, Henry and Louisa. Gail Furman
, Furman's mother, heads a family foundation ("The Furman Foundation, Inc.") that funds mostly left-leaning nonprofit groups.
His hobbies include juggling
.
Furman is often parodied on the Glenn Beck Program
as Obama advisor "Honkey Whitesville," a recurring call-in guest portrayed by Steve Burguiere
.
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, whom he'd been advising since the latter stages of the 2008 presidential campaign. Although he generally works with Democrats, he is reported by the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call to be widely respected by Republicans, as well. Matthew Yglesias has referred to him as Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
' "smart, hardworking, well-regarded deputy," and suggested that he replace Summers as head of the National Economic Council.
Life and career
Furman's research and policy focus includes the subjects of taxes, health care, and the U.S. Social SecuritySocial Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
program. Furman's qualified defense of Wal-Mart's business model provoked criticism from some labor organizations when he joined Obama's 2008 campaign. But notable liberals defended Furman, praising his staunch defense of Social Security, criticism of inequality, and advocacy of universal health insurance.
In 1996, while he was a graduate student at Harvard, Furman was hired by economist Joseph Stiglitz to serve a one-year stint as Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy in the Clinton Administration and on staff of the Council of Economic Advisers
Council of Economic Advisers
The Council of Economic Advisers is an agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy...
. He later worked with Stiglitz at the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
. Furman was involved to varying degrees with the Presidential campaigns of Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
and General Wesley Clark. In 2004, he took a position as Director of Economic Policy for the John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
Presidential campaign in 2004.
Furman received an MSc from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Also at Harvard, Furman earned a bachelor's in social studies and a master's in government. He has worked with former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin
Robert Rubin
Robert Edward Rubin served as the 70th United States Secretary of the Treasury during both the first and second Clinton administrations. Before his government service, he spent 26 years at Goldman Sachs eventually serving as a member of the Board, and Co-Chairman from 1990-1992...
.
In recent years, Furman has worked as a budget expert at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
. There, he directed the Hamilton Project, an economic policy research group that develops policy proposals to achieve shared economic growth.
He was a Visiting Scholar at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. He has been a visiting lecturer at Columbia and Yale Universities.
He lives in Washington, DC, with his wife, Eve Gerber, and their two children, Henry and Louisa. Gail Furman
Gail Furman
Gail Furman is a child psychologist and a wealthy Democratic party activist and donor. She is the mother of Barack Obama campaign advisor Jason Furman.Furman is President of the Furman Foundation, Inc...
, Furman's mother, heads a family foundation ("The Furman Foundation, Inc.") that funds mostly left-leaning nonprofit groups.
His hobbies include juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
.
Furman is often parodied on the Glenn Beck Program
Glenn Beck Program
The Glenn Beck Program is an American talk radio show hosted by commentator Glenn Beck on Premiere Radio Networks. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs...
as Obama advisor "Honkey Whitesville," a recurring call-in guest portrayed by Steve Burguiere
Steve Burguiere
Steve Burguiere, known better as "Stu," is an American radio producer and personality, and executive producer and the head writer of The Glenn Beck Program on Premiere Radio Networks.-Early and personal life:...
.
External links
- Writings at the Brookings InstitutionBrookings InstitutionThe Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...