Jason Fichtner

Background and Education

Jason J. Fichtner is a Senior Lecturer and an Associate Director of the Master of International Economics and Finance (MIEF) program. Fichtner first joined the SAIS faculty in 2011 as an adjunct professor, teaching courses in public finance and cost benefit analysis.

Previously, he was a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Fichtner served in several positions at the Social Security Administration, including as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security (acting), Chief Economist, and Associate Commissioner for Retirement Policy. He also served as senior economist with the Joint Economic Committee of the US Congress.

Fichtner’s research focuses on Social Security, federal tax policy, federal budget policy, retirement security, and policy proposals to increase saving and investment.

His work has been featured in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic, and USA Today, as well as on broadcasts by PBS, NBC, and NPR.

He was also an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy and the Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy, where he taught courses in economics, public finance, public policy process, public management, and public budgeting processes.

Fichtner earned his BA from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; his MPP from Georgetown University; and his PhD in public administration and policy from Virginia Tech.

Fichtner is the author of "The Hidden Cost of Federal Tax Policy" and the editor of "The Economics of Medicaid."

You can follow Fichtner on Twitter @JJFichtner.