Dr. Raymond Robertson
Dr. Raymond Robertson is an economist whose career has focused on applying rigorous economic analysis to public policy. He earned a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Trinity University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. After beginning his academic career at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, he joined Macalester College in Saint Paul, where he taught economics for fifteen years and directed the Latin American Studies Program before joining Texas A&M University as the Helen and Roy Ryu Professor of Economics and Government and Director of the Mosbacher Institute for Trade, Economics, and Public Policy.
Throughout his career, Dr. Robertson has combined academic research with public service. His work has informed economic policy for governments and international organizations, including the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of State, the World Bank, and the International Labour Organization. He previously chaired the U.S. Department of Labor's National Advisory Committee on Labor Provisions of U.S. Free Trade Agreements, served on the U.S. Department of State's Advisory Committee on International Economic Policy, and served on the advisory board of the Center for Global Development. His research spans labor markets, regional economic development, trade, migration, and workforce issues, with an emphasis on using empirical evidence to inform policy decisions.
Dr. Robertson has authored or edited numerous books and more than one hundred scholarly publications and policy reports and has received research support from organizations including the World Bank, the U.S. Department of State, the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), and Google. He was named a Texas A&M Presidential Impact Fellow in 2018 in recognition of the policy impact of his research. His professional career reflects a longstanding commitment to communicating economic analysis clearly to policymakers and the public and to applying economics to address practical public policy challenges.
He began serving as Minnesota’s state economist in August 2026.
