John Nash has been a member of the World Bank staff since 1986, working  in Latin America and Caribbean agricultural operations (1986-88); the International Trade Research Group in the Development Economics vice-presidency (1988-1996); and Europe and Central Asia agricultural  operations (1996-December, 2001); and Advisor for Commodities and Trade in the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development vice-presidency (2002- Dec. 2006). Since January 2007, he has been Lead Economist of the Sustainable Development Department in the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Operations, dealing with issues of climate change, rural development, environment, social development, energy, infrastructure, urban development and water supply.

John was previously with the US Federal Trade Commission (1983-88), holding positions including Assistant Director for Trade Regulation Rules and Economic Advisor to the Chairman. Prior to that, he was assistant professor of economics at Texas A&M University (1980-83).  John holds an MSc and PhD in economics, from the University of Chicago  and a BS in economics from Texas A&M University.

He has published on topics such as economic implications of climate change; WTO negotiations and the implications for developing countries; trade policy in Latin America, Africa, South Asia, and transition economies; agricultural policy adjustment; agricultural price policy; commodity price stabilization; and capital mobility.

John was born and raised in Houston, but now resides in Northern Virginia with his wife Sarah (married 1982); very creative twenty-something daughter Rachel; boarder and  teenager-to-the-max son Scott; and two much-loved dogs.  He runs for exercise.  For recreation, Sarah and John are avid scuba divers and skiers, both sports threatened by climate change, which is one reason John has a very personal, as well as professional interest in this global menace. Read John’s thoughts on the World Bank’s blog website.