Given the question: Facts: - repec id: pro20 - institution: university of california , berkeley - field: economics political science - birth date: 1954 - repec prefix: e - name: gerard roland - nationality: belgian - birth place: jemappes , wallonia - alma mater: free university of brussels Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of gerard roland -lrb- economist -rrb- .
The answer is:
gerard roland -lrb- born 1954 -rrb- is a belgian economist , and a professor of economics and political science at the university of california , berkeley .he graduated from the free university of brussels in 1988 .his early work was on the political economy of communism .after 1990 , he became one of the world 's most renowned and influential scholars in transition economics .he is a member of the executive and supervisory committee -lrb- esc -rrb- of cerge-ei .