Jeff Harris, professor of finance, has been appointed chief economist for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he has served as a consultant since 2006.

Harris will be on leave from the University in order to devote himself full time to the appointment that is expected to last through the remainder of the Bush administration.

“This is a great honor for Jeff, UD and the Lerner College,” says Jay Coughenour, finance department chairperson. “This prominent appointment follows from Jeff’s deep intellectual contributions to financial economics, especially in the areas of stock and derivative market structure and regulation. We all wish Jeff well on this venture.”

The Office of the Chief Economist is independent of CFTC but with responsibility for providing expert economic advice to the commission. Its functions include policy analysis, economic research, expert testimony, education and training.

“I am pleased to announce Jeff’s new role here at the CFTC. He had worked with the agency previously as a consultant, and we are thrilled to have his expertise available now full time and as chief economist,” Walter Lukken, acting commission chairman, says. “The CFTC is evaluating a number of important issues in the futures industry, and Jeff’s counsel and insight will prove invaluable in this process.”

Harris conducts research in such areas as market microstructure and equities trading and initial public offerings and investor behavior. He has served as a visiting academic fellow for the Nasdaq stock exchange and as a visiting academic scholar for the Securities and Exchange Commission.