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Felicia F. Ionescu

Education

  • Ph.D., Economics, University of Iowa, 2006
  • M.S., Mathematics, University of Iowa, 2006
  • M.A., Economics, University of Iowa, 2002
  • B.A., Economics, University of Transilvania, Brasov, Romania, 1999
Current Research Topics
  • Bank lending policies, Bank credit, Default
  • Human capital, Student loans
  • Chief

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

    2018 - present
  • Principal Economist

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

    2015 - 2018
  • Senior Economist, Economist

    Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

    2013 - 2015
  • Visiting Scholar

    The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

    2011
  • Visiting Assistant Professor

    University of Pennsylvania

    2010
  • Assistant Professor

    Colgate University

    2006 - 2013
  • Stock market participation: The role of human capital
    Kartik Athreya, Felicia Ionescu, and Urvi Neelakantan
    Review of Economic Dynamics (2023)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.red.2021.12.002
  • Drivers of Bank Supply of Business Loans
    Andrew Castro, David Glancy, and Felicia Ionescu
    FEDS Notes (2022)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.3059
  • What Happens When Banks Tighten C&I Loan Supply?
    Andrew Castro, David Glancy, Felicia Ionescu, and Greg Marchal
    FEDS Notes (2022)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.3058
  • Student loan borrowing and repayment decisions: risks and contingencies
    Kartik Athreya, Christopher Herrington, Felicia Ionescu, and Urvi Neelakantan
    Routledge Handbook of the Economics of Education (2021)
  • Lending Standards and Borrowing Premia in Unsecured Credit Markets
    Kyle Dempsey and Felicia Ionescu
    Finance and Economics Discussion Series (2021)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/FEDS.2021.039
  • How Did Banks Fund C&I Drawdowns at the Onset of the COVID-19 Crisis?
    David Glancy, Max Gross, and Felicia Ionescu
    FEDS Notes (2020)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.2601
  • Who Values Access to College?
    Kartik Athreya, Felicia Ionescu, Urvi Neelakantan, Jessie Romero, and Ivan Vidangos
    Economic Brief (2020)
    See also » FRB Working Paper (2019)
  • Changes in Monetary Policy and Banks' Net Interest Margins: A Comparison across Four Tightening Episodes
    Jared Berry, Felicia Ionescu, Robert Kurtzman, and Rebecca Zarutskie
    FEDS Notes (2019)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.2352
  • Are Income and Credit Scores Highly Correlated?
    Rachael Beer, Felicia Ionescu, and Geng Li
    FEDS Notes (2018)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.2235
  • College or the Stock Market, or College and the Stock Market?
    Kartik Athreya, Felicia Ionescu, and Urvi Neelakantan
    FEDS Notes (2017)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/2380-7172.1900
  • Stock Market Investment: The Role of Human Capital
    Kartik Athreya, Felicia F. Ionescu, and Urvi Neelakantan
    Finance and Economics Discussion Series (2016)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/FEDS.2015.065r1
  • Default Risk and Private Student Loans: Implications for Higher Education Policies
    Felicia Ionescu and Nicole B. Simpson
    Journal of Economic Dynamics & Control (2016)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jedc.2015.12.003
    See also » FRB Working Paper (2014)
  • The Interplay Between Student Loans and Credit Card Debt: Implications for Default in the Great Recession
    Felicia Ionescu and Marius Ionescu
    Finance and Economics Discussion Series (2014)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/FEDS.2014.14
  • Insuring Student Loans against the Financial Risk of Failing to Complete College
    Satyajit Chatterjee and Felicia Ionescu
    Quantitative Economics (2012)
    https://doi.org/10.3982/QE100
  • The Effects of Credit Status on College Enrollment and College Completion
    Felicia Ionescu, Dora Gicheva, and Nicole Simpson
    IZA Discussion Paper (2012)
  • Risky Human Capital and Alternative Bankruptcy Regimes for Student Loans
    Felicia Ionescu
    Journal of Human Capital (2011)
    https://doi.org/10.1086/661744
  • Insuring College Failure Risk
    Satyajit Chatterjee and Felicia Ionescu
    Working paper (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia) (2010)
  • A Theory of Brain Drain and Public Funding for Higher Education in the United States
    Felicia Ionescu and Linnea A. Polgreen
    American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings (2009)
    https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.99.2.517
  • The Federal Student Loan Program: Quantitative implications for college enrollment and default rates
    Felicia Ionescu
    Review of Economic Dynamics (2009)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.red.2008.09.004
  • Consolidation of Student Loan Repayments and Default Incentives
    Felicia A. Ionescu
    B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics (2008)
    https://doi.org/10.2202/1935-1690.1682
  • Federal Student Loan Program: Quantitative Implications for College Enrollment, Repayment and Default Rates
    Anamaria Felicia Ionescu
    University of Iowa (2006)
  • Differential Responses to Price and Exchange Rate Influences in the Foreign Trade of Selected Industrial Countries
    John F. Wilson and Wendy E. Takacs
    International Finance Discussion Papers (1977)
    https://doi.org/10.17016/IFDP.1977.104
  • conference

    2015

    European Central Bank Conference on Household Finance and Consumption

  • conference

    2015

    ERMAS (Annual Conference of Romanian Economists), Conference on Student Loan Repayment at FRB Philadelphia

  • conference

    2015

    Annual Meetings of Society of Economic Dynamics, Econometric Society, The American Economic Association, Midwest Macroeconomics

  • seminar

    2015

    Indiana University, University of Virginia, Fordham University, Stony Brook University, Federal Reserve Board Macro Workshop

  • conference

    2014

    Annual Meetings of Society of Economic Dynamics, Econometric Society, Midwest Macroeconomics, Computational Economics and Finance

  • seminar

    2014

    Bureau of Economic Analysis, University of Delaware

  • conference

    2013

    Annual Meetings of Econometric Society, Midwest Macroeconomics, Computational Economics and Finance

  • seminar

    2013

    University of Alberta, Bank of Canada, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

  • conference

    2012

    The NBER Summer Institute of Household Finance, of Aggregate Implications of Microeconomic Consumption Behavior

  • conference

    2012

    Annual Meetings of Econometric Society, Midwest Macroeconomics, Southern Economic Association Conference

  • seminar

    2012

    Suny Buffalo, Temple University

  • conference

    2011

    Annual Meetings Society of Advancements in Economic Theory, Society of Economic Dynamics

  • conference

    2011

    Annual Meetings of The American Economic Association, Midwest Macroeconomics, Econometric Society

  • seminar

    2011

    Suny Albany, The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Vassar College, Colgate Social Science Series

  • conference

    2010

    The Econometric Society World Congress, Shanghai, China, The Cornell-Pennstate Macro Workshop

  • conference

    2010

    Annual Meetings of The American Economic Association, Midwest Macroeconomics, Society of Economic Dynamics

  • seminar

    2010

    University of Pennsylvania, Penn State University, The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Lafayette College

  • seminar

    2010

    Queen's University, Yeshiva University, Ohio State University, Colorado College

  • conference

    2009

    The NBER Summer Institute of Aggregate Implications of Microeconomic Consumption Behavior, Workshop in Macroeconomic Research at Liberal Arts Colleges

  • conference

    2009

    Annual Meetings of The American Economic Association, Society of Economics Dynamics, Midwest Macroeconomics, University of Iowa Alumni Workshop

  • seminar

    2009

    Cornell University, University of Connecticut, Amherst College

  • conference

    2008

    Annual Meetings of Society of Economic Dynamics, Econometric Society, Midwest Macroeconomics, The Liberal Arts Macro Workshop

  • seminar

    2008

    University of Western Ontario, University of Connecticut, Colgate University

  • conference

    2007

    The Cornell-Pennstate Macro Workshop, Liberal Arts Macro Workshop, Midwest Macro Meetings, Midwest Economic Association, Iowa Alumni Workshop

  • seminar

    2007

    Delaware University, Union College, Fordham University, Colgate Social Science Series

  • conference

    2006

    University of Iowa Alumni Workshop, Midwest Macroeconomics Annual Meeting, Workshop in Macroeconomic Research at Liberal Arts Colleges

  • seminar

    2006

    Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Colgate University, University of Texas Arlington, Mount Hollyoke, University of Iowa

  • conference

    2005

    University of Iowa Alumni Workshop, Midwest Macroeconomics Annual Meeting

Awards
  • 2011

    The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and CSWEP

    Research Fellowship

  • 2005

    University of Iowa

    Graduate College Dissertation Fellowship

Conference Organization
  • 2018 | Federal Reserve Board

    System Applied Microeconomics Conference

    Co-organizer

  • 2017 | Babes Bolyai, Romania

    ERMAS

    Co-organizer

  • 2010 | Colgate University

    Liberal Arts Macro Workshop

    Local organizer

Referee
  • American Economic Review
  • Econometrica
  • Journal of Economic Theory
  • Quarterly Journal of Economics
  • Review of Economic Dynamics
  • Journal of Labor Economics
  • American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics
  • Journal of Human Capital
  • Macroeconomic Dynamics
  • B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics
  • Economic Inquiry
  • Journal of Public Economic Theory
  • Journal of The Japanese and International Economies
  • Economics of Education Review
  • Eastern Economic Journal
  • Journal of Population Economics
Professional Affiliation
  • Member of The Human Capital and Economic Opportunity (Markets Group) at Becker Friedman Institute for Research in Economics, The University of Chicago, 2012-present
  • Member of the American Economic Association, 2006-present
  • Member of the Econometric Society, 2006-present
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Last Update: December 1, 2023