Author: Costas Lapavitsas
Born: 20 Jan 1961
Bio: Costas Lapavitsas (Greek: Kώστας Λαπαβίτσας) is a professor of economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and was elected as a member of the Hellenic Parliament for the left-wing Syriza party in the January 2015 general election. He subsequently defected to the Popular Unity in August 2015.

In 1982, he obtained a master's degree at the London School of Economics, followed in 1986 by a PhD at Birkbeck College, University of London. Since 1999 he has taught Economics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, first as a lecturer, and since 2008 as a professor.

Costas Lapavitsas is known for his criticism of the modern Western financial system, particularly the Greek government-debt crisis, the European debt crisis and the European Union. He is also a columnist for the British newspaper *The Guardian*. In 2007 he founded *Research on Money and Finance* (RMF) an international network of political economists focusing on money, finance and the evolution of contemporary capitalism.



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