Ira Kalish is director, Consumer Business at Deloitte Research. He is a subject matter specialist on global economic issues as well as the effects of economic, demographic and social trends on the global retailing and consumer products industries. Dr. Kalish conducts research on global consumer issues and has authored in-depth reports on consumer business in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Mexico and South America. In addition, he has authored more than 120 articles and reports on economic and retail trends in the U.S. and around the world.

Dr. Kalish recently conducted research on the role of China as a global sourcing location. His report The World's Factory examined how changes in China's economic climate will affect global consumer goods distribution. In addition, he is looking at the evolving role of global food retailers and how their strategic decisions will affect smaller competitors as well as suppliers.

Dr. Kalish has given numerous presentations on topics related to the global economy and consumer business. Among his audiences have been Auchan, Boots, Gap, GE Capital, Kmart, Levi Strauss, NCR, Nike, NRF, Retail Week, Sears and Topco. In addition, he has been widely quoted in the news media. His remarks have been published by The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, The Economist, The Financial Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, US News and World Report, The Far Eastern Economic Review, Women’s Wear Daily and Advertising Age. He has appeared on CNN, CBS News, CNBC, PBS and BBC World Service.

Prior to his work at Deloitte, Dr. Kalish was chief economist at Retail Forward, a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a vice president at Bankers Trust Corporation, a corporate economist at the Eastman Kodak Company, and a research assistant at the Institute for International Economics. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Vassar College and a doctorate in international economics from Johns Hopkins University.