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Acting Federal Trade Commission Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen announced that FTC Bureau of Economics Director Ginger Zhe Jin is departing the agency to return to the University of Maryland and has named Michael G. Vita Acting Director of the Bureau.

“Ginger was an outstanding Bureau Director, bringing sound economic reasoning and advice on a host of consumer protection and competition matters,” Acting Chairman Ohlhausen said. “We thank her for her service and many contributions to the FTC.”

The Director of the Bureau supervises economic analysis at the Commission and advises the agency on economic policy matters. Jin came to the FTC in 2015 to work as a fellow while on sabbatical from the University of Maryland, where she serves as a Professor of Economics.  She has been the Director of the Bureau of Economics since January 2016 and will be returning to her position at the University of Maryland. Jin also served as a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, co-editor of the Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, and co-founder of Hazel Analytics, Inc.

Vita joined the FTC in 1984 as an economist and served as Deputy Assistant Director and Assistant Director of the Bureau of Economics before being named Deputy Director in 2014. He received his master’s and doctorate degrees in economics from the University of Wisconsin and his bachelor’s degree in economics from Pennsylvania State University.

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