Professional Affiliation

Research Fellow, Center for Latin American & Latino Studies, American University

Expert Bio

Dr. Porzecanski is an expert in international finance, emerging markets, and Latin American economics. From August 2005 to August 2021, he was a professor of international economics, with the title of Distinguished Economist in Residence, at American University. He previously taught at Columbia University, New York University, and Williams College, but spent most of his professional career working as an international economist on Wall Street. Dr. Porzecanski was chief economist for emerging markets at ABN AMRO Bank (2000-2005); chief economist for the Americas at ING Bank (1994-2000); chief emerging-markets economist at Kidder, Peabody & Co. (1992-1993); chief economist at Republic National Bank of New York (1989-1992); senior economist at J.P. Morgan Bank (1977-1989); research economist at the Center for Latin American Monetary Studies in Mexico City (1975-1976); and visiting economist at the International Monetary Fund (1973). He carries out and publishes research in international finance; provides consulting services to legal and financial firms, as well as to U.S. government agencies and multilateral institutions; and serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Hispanic Prosperity.

Expertise

• Democracy
• Economics and Globalization
• Global Governance
• Human Rights
• International Development
• Latin America

Wilson Center Project

Venezuela's Attempt to Nullify Foreign Debt Obligations

Project Summary

Prof. Porzecanski will carry out research and write an article, for eventual publication in an international law journal, about the international significance of the recent attempt by the Venezuelan government-in-exile to have the U.S. federal judiciary void the 2020 repayment obligation of a now defaulted PDVSA bond, collateralized by shares in CITGO Petroleum, subject to New York law, that it claims was illegally issued under Venezuelan law. (See United States District Court, Southern District of New York, Case No. 19 Civ. 10023 (KPF) Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), Plaintiffs and Counterclaim Defendants, v. MUFG Union Bank and GLAS Americas, Defendants and Counterclaim Plaintiffs, 2020-21.)

Major Publications

• "Human Rights and Sovereign Debts in the Context of Property and Creditor Rights," in Sovereign Debts and Human Rights, Oxford: 2018.
• "Debunking the Relevance of the Debt-to-GDP Ratio," in World Economics, January-March 2018.
• "Sovereign Debt Restructuring After Argentina," in Development, June 2016.