PMI Hires Fannie's Chief Economist

David W. Berson, longtime chief economist at Fannie Mae, has been named chief economist and strategist of The PMI Group Inc., Walnut Creek, Calif.Mr. Berson's responsibilities will include domestic and global market research and planning, support of government relations, and public policy and strategic environmental planning, PMI said. He will also act as a PMI spokesman on topics related to global economic housing as well as mortgage market conditions and policy. At Fannie Mae, where he was vice president and chief economist since 1989, Mr. Berson advised the company on national and regional economic, housing, and mortgage policy and conditions. Mr. Berson previously held senior management positions at Wharton Econometric Forecasting Associates and teaching positions at the University of Michigan, Claremont McKenna College, and Claremont Graduate School. PMI can be found online at http://www.pmigroup.com.