About James M. Poterba James M. Poterba is Mitsui Professor in the Department of Economics at MIT. He has been Director of the NBER Public Economics Research Program since 1991 and has edited volumes 6-20 of Tax Policy and the Economy. Books by James M. Poterba Fiscal Reform in Colombia Problems and Prospects edited by Richard M. Bird, James M. Poterba & Joel Slemrod