William Robson, president and CEO of the C.D. Howe Institute, today announced that economist David Wolf has joined the Institute’s Monetary Policy Council (MPC). Wolf is vp, head of Canadian economics and chief strategist at Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.

“David Wolf is one of Canada’s keenest analysts of economic conditions and financial markets,” said Robson, who is the MPC’s non-voting chair. “We are delighted that he is joining the MPC, and know his insights on interest-rate policy, financial conditions and inflation will make a key contribution to the group’s work.”

At Merrill Lynch, Wolf is responsible for economic forecasting, fundamental analysis, and portfolio strategy in the Canadian market.

Before joining Merrill Lynch in 2005, he spent eight years as an economist and strategist at a large Canadian investment dealer. He appears often in TV, radio, print and wire media. Prior to his work in the financial industry, Wolf worked as a researcher in both academic and public policy spheres, including a stint at the U.S. Congressional Budget Office (National Security Division) in Washington, D.C. He holds degrees in Economics and Engineering magna cum laude from Princeton University.

Wolf replaces Rick Egelton, vp and chief economist at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, who has been a member of the MPC since 2005.

The MPC comprises 12 of Canada’s most distinguished financial-market and monetary economists. By convening to discuss the Bank of Canada’s target for the overnight rate — the benchmark interest rate it uses to influence monetary conditions in Canada — shortly before each of the Bank’s interest-rate announcements, the Council provides a regular, independent assessment of the Bank’s stance as it seeks to achieve its 2% inflation target.