Top economist departs
President Obama announced that his chief economic advisor, Lawrence Summers, would be leaving before the end of the year.
Amid mounting anxiety over the stalled economic recovery, President Obama this week announced that his chief economic advisor would be leaving before the end of the year. Lawrence Summers, who leads the National Economic Council, will return to teaching at Harvard University. Widely considered both brilliant and brusque, Summers, 55, is the third key member of Obama’s economic team to depart in recent months, following budget director Peter Orszag and economic advisor Christina Romer. Obama thanked Summers for helping “guide us from the depths of the worst recession since the 1930s to renewed growth.’’ Polls show broad voter dissatisfaction with the economy.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Why some people remember dreams and others don't
Under The Radar Age, attitude and weather all play a part in dream recall
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week contest: Hotel seal
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
New FBI Director Kash Patel could profit heavily from foreign interests
The Explainer Patel holds more than $1 million in Chinese fashion company Shein
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published