Perng Fai-nan (; born 2 January 1939) is a Taiwanese economist. He served as the governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 25 February 1998 to 26 February 2018, the longest-serving governor in the bank's history. Perng held the distinction as "Best Central Banker in the world" for 14 years (2000, 2005-2017) per Global Finance.

Education

Perng obtained his bachelor's degree in economics from College of Law and Business,

National Chung Hsing University National Chung Hsing University (NCHU; ; lit. National Resurgence University) is a comprehensive research university in South District, Taichung, Taiwan. Currently, NCHU is among the four universities of the Taiwan Comprehensive University Sys ...

(now

National Taipei University National Taipei University (NTPU; ), founded in 1949, is a national university in Taiwan. Before 2000, the university was named the College of Law and Business, National Chung Hsing University (). The university's main campus is in Sanxia Distr ...

) in 1962. He then obtained his master's degree in economics from

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

in 1971.

Career

Perng was trained as an economist and by 2000 had become a prominent banker. He has been listed in the Global Finance magazine "world's top bankers" for eight consecutive years and has also been credited with saving the banking sector in Taiwan through two near-disastrous financial crises. His career reached its apex when he was highly regarded as a prime candidate for the premiership of Taiwan, and during President Ma Ying-jeou's government, considered for the position of the cabinet head. Perng, however, declined to continue working in the banking world. Perng reputedly works 364 days a year, taking just one day off for the

Chinese New Year Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival (see also #Names, § Names), is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a New Year, new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar, lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is one of the most important holi ...

's Eve. As a governor of the central bank, Perng's role is to keep a balance between Taiwan's export and foreign exchange flexibility on one hand and foster economic growth and check domestic inflation. Perng is well regarded in business circles in Taiwan and in his fourteen years with Taiwan' Central Bank reportedly had steered the bank into becoming a "hen that lays golden eggs". His presence at the bank was widely regarded as a sign of currency stability in Taiwan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perng, Fai-nan 1939 births Living people Political office-holders in the Republic of China on Taiwan Governors of the Central Bank of the Republic of China University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts alumni National Chung Hsing University alumni