BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

J. FRED GIERTZ

J. Fred Giertz is a professor emeritus in the Department of Economics (where he served as interim head from 2007-2010) and a member of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (where he served as director in 2012-2013) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He has been at the University of Illinois since 1980. He received his Ph. D. in economics from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 1970. 

Professor Giertz's major research interests are in the areas of public finance, public choice, and regional economic development.  He specializes in state and local taxation and expenditure analysis and in regional economic development issues. He has consulted with a variety of different governments, firms, and other organizations on tax and economic development issues.  He follows general macroeconomic issues, especially as they impact Illinois. He also writes frequently on the Illinois budget and general economic issues in publications such as State Tax Notes and Central Illinois Business and compiles the U of I Flash Index, a monthly indicator of the Illinois economy.  Several recent articles have appeared in the National Tax Journal.

Professor Giertz is an elected member of the board of trustees of the State Universities Retirement System (SURS).  He has served as chair of the board's investment committee.  The board oversees the $20.0 billion retirement fund for Illinois public university and college employees. From 2000 to 2014, he served as the Executive Director of the National Tax Association, a 1,200 member organization of tax professionals located in Washington, D. C.

Giertz can be reached at the following address:

J. Fred Giertz

Department of Economics and

Institute of Government and Public Affairs

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1007 West Nevada Street

Urbana, Illinois  61801 

Direct office number and messages: (217) 244-4822 (217) 840-9148 (fax)

IGPA FAX: (217) 244-4817

e-mail:  jgiertz@uiuc.edu