Andy Polacek is a senior research analyst in the economic research department and a member of the Insurance Initiative team at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. In that role, he works on issues concerning the systemic risk of the insurance industry and represents the Federal Reserve system as a working group member with the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). His current research includes insurers’ role in corporate bond market, insurance regulation, reinsurance, and catastrophe bonds.

Polacek has a B.A. in international studies and economics and an M.S in economics and policy analysis from DePaul University.