Our Speakers

Dr. Nariman Behravesh is Chief Economist and Executive Vice President for Global Insight (formerly DRI-WEFA). Directing Global Insight's entire forecasting process, he is responsible for developing the economic outlook and risk analysis for the United States, Europe, Japan, and emerging markets. He oversees the work of over 200 professionals, located in North America and Europe, who cover economic, financial, and political developments in over 180 countries.

Behravesh and his team were designated #1 in USA Today's 2004 ranking of top economic forecasters, and in Reuters' 2004 survey of major currency exchange rate forecasters. In The Wall Street Journal's annual ranking of US forecasters, Behravesh was the only forecaster to place in the top six for both 2003 and 2004.

As Global Insight's chief spokesperson, Behravesh is quoted extensively in the media on such topics as the outlook for the US and global economies, oil prices, exchange rates, the budget deficit, the trade deficit, globalization, country risk, and emerging markets crises. He is cited frequently in leading business publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, USA Today, Investor's Business Daily, Business Week, Newsweek, Fortune, Forbes and U.S. News and World Report. He also regularly appears on national radio and television programs including BBC World Business Report, NBC Nightly News, CNN Headline News, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (PBS), Your World with Neil Cavuto (Fox News), CNBC's Closing Bell, Bloomberg TV's World Financial Report, and All Things Considered on National Public Radio.

Behravesh was the host of the PBS television series "Inside the Global Economy." He has authored numerous articles in such publications as European Affairs and Credit Week, co-authored two books– Economics U$A and Microcomputers, Corporate Planning and Decision Support Systems–and was a contributing author to a recent book on scenario analysis, entitled Learning From the Future.

Before joining Global Insight, Behravesh was chief international economist for Standard & Poor's. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of Oxford Economics U.S.A., Inc. He also spent ten years at the WEFA Group, where he held a number of positions, including group senior vice president. Early in his career Behravesh worked at the Congressional Budget Office and the Federal Reserve.

Behravesh holds Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.Sc. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has lived in Europe and the Middle East, and is fluent in several languages. He travels extensively to Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.