Member Profile - Chris Adams

Where did you grow up in Australia?
Melbourne.

What brought you to the US?

I came to do a PhD in Economics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

How long have you been here?
I arrived in 1994, so coming up on 15 years.

How long do you plan to stay?
Probably forever!

What is your current position and your role?
I am an economist with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC is similar to the ACCC in Australia and is responsible for antitrust, merger regulation and consumer protection. I work on antitrust and merger review, analysing the economic impact of those things. I also conduct academic style research related to competition policy.

What made you decide on this type of work?
The FTC offered me a job, and they didn’t require US Citizenship!

What is the best part of your job?
You get to be actually involved in decisions that impact consumers. I can combine the academic research with actual public policy.

Can you describe some of your most memorable moments/stories?
Not particularly. Most of what we do inside the agency is confidential. Working on a case that went to court was probably the most memorable experience. It was a lot of work, a lot of pressure and a lot of tension, even some yelling. I’m not sure I would want to do it again. I certainly gained a lot of respect for people that work as expert witnesses in antitrust cases.

What are the challenges and advantages you face in your industry in the US?
Government is certainly a nice place to be at these times. Government offers good pay, interesting work without the long hours required in some industries. It is nice if you have a family with two full-time employees and children.

How has the overseas experience shaped you?
Travelling and living overseas is very exciting. I really feel at home in the US and I enjoy living in DC. For good or bad, you break from what you grew up with and start over to some extent.

Is there anything you miss about Australia?
I miss my family. My brother and his family as well as my parents still live in Melbourne.

What suggestions do you have for other Australian’s wanting to follow a similar path?

I would certainly encourage Australians interested in doing a PhD in Economics to apply to US programs. Coming out of a US school opens doors to many areas including ones that you may never have considered like working for the FTC.

Do you plan to return to Australia?
Probably not permanently, but if there is an opportunity to spend a few months in Australia, we may take that.