December 1, 2008, Washington, DC – Today, Vice President-elect Joe Biden announced his selection of Jared Bernstein to the newly-created position of Chief Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to the Vice-President.

During his 16 years at EPI, Bernstein has shown great skill and intuition in analyzing the direction of the economy, and has been a tireless advocate for middle- and low-income families and for greater equity in the U.S. economy.

Bernstein’s colleagues, EPI President Lawrence Mishel and labor economist Heidi Shierholz, will continue to monitor, analyze and report on a full range of economic developments, including employment and wage trends, noting in particular their impact on working families. This morning, Shierholz will join Bernstein for his final EPI monthly jobs report, based on figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Jared will be sorely missed at EPI,” said EPI President Mishel. “However, we are thrilled to know that his experience and vision will be a part of the discussion leading us forward at this time of economic crisis.”
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