William Testa

About William Testa

William Testa is an economist with life-long interests in the Midwest's regional economic growth, economic development, and state-local public finance. Most recently, he served as vice president and director of regional research in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. During the 1990s, Testa led a definitive assessment of the Midwest economy in which public and private sector leaders convened to set a course for the region. His Midwest Economy weblog continues to be a rich source of discussion and guidance for the region.

A widely-recognized and renowned expert on the Midwest economy, he currently lectures at DePaul University's College of Commerce. His activities include public speaking, public policy project leadership, and both popular and academic writing and publication. He also serves in an advisory or director's capacity to a variety of professional journals, nonprofit organizations, advisory boards, and economic development initiatives in the Midwest.

Prior to joining the Chicago Fed in 1982, Testa was a visiting faculty member in the economics department at Tulane University in New Orleans and a graduate research fellow at the Academy for Contemporary Problems in Columbus, Ohio. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Testa received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and a PhD in economics from The Ohio State University.