Luis Alberto Arce Catacora, is the head of the Ministry of Economy and Public Finances from Bolivia, since the beginning of Evo Morales Ayma‘s government, eleven years ago.
He received an Msc in Economics from the University of Warwick in England in 1997. Previously in 1991, he graduated as Bachelor in Economics from the San Andres Major University (UMSA). He also graduated as an Accountant from the Bank Education Institute in 1984.
Minister Arce made his entire career at the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB), from 1987 until January 2006, when he assumed the post of Minister of Economy and Public Finance.
Minister Arce has lectured at numerous European, American and Latin American universities, such as Columbia University in New York, Georgetown University, American University, Pittsburgh University, Harvard University, University of Chicago, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), University of Geneva, among others.
He is the author of the book “The Bolivian Economic Social Communitarian Productive Model” (2015). He published several articles and analysis such as: Uncertainty and Dollarization in Bolivia, “Is it Appropriate the Mechanism of Bolsin (Central Bank’s currency market)?”, “Brief Assessment of Bolivian Exchange Rate Regime, Contribution to the Debate on Dollarization”, “Demand for Money in Bolivia”, “Financial Liberalization and Concentration in the Banking System”, among others.
Among his distinctions it can be mentioned that Los Andes University and Franz Tamayo University awarded him with the honorary title of “Doctor Honoris Causa”. In addition, he received the award “Golden Paceñisimo” from the Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia’s Parliamentary Brigade of La Paz. He also was distinguished by the Economic Commission of the Bolivia’s Deputy Chamber for his contribution to the Development of Bolivia. The San Andres Major University (UMSA) honored him as an “Outstanding Professor” and the National University of XX Century, gave him the distinction "Academic Palms Workers University, Merit Gold Category". Recently, the magazine America Economia recognized Minister Arce in the eighth place among the top ministers in the region in 2015.
