Ralf Meisenzahl is a senior economist, economic advisor, and head of the Insurance Initiative in the economic research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. His research focuses on financial intermediation, linkages between finance and the real economy, and economic history. His work has been published in several academic journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economic Studies, Journal of Financial Economics, and Review of Financial Studies. He currently serves as co-editor in chief of Explorations in Economic History.

Before joining the Chicago Fed in August 2019, Meisenzahl served as principal economist at the Federal Reserve Board. He received a diploma in economics from University of Mannheim and a Ph.D. in economics from Northwestern University.