At first glance, one might consider Jerry Richard Green to be a Harvard outsider.

But thought he did not arrive here with the classic insider's background, Green--a New York Jew who has never studied at an Ivy League university-has worked his way through a variety of administrative and academic posts. Over the past 21 years, in fact, Green has assembled quite a reputation as a faculty insider.

And it is perhaps as a consequence of that experience and that reputation that the 45-year-old Wells Professor of Political Economy is now a leading contender in President Neil L. Rudenstine's search for a provost.

Though Green is the youngest candidate on Rudenstine's short list, he has been a Harvard professor for nearly half his life--since before most current undergraduates were born.

While some question Green's lack of experience outside the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, other observers say an economist would be a fine choice as provost in these tough economic times.

Almost all of Green's backers mention his extensive administrative experience within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The economist currently serves as chair of the Faculty's Retirement Policy Committee. He also chairs the Committee on Professional Conduct and serves on several other faculty committees.

Green has also served as a member of the Faculty Council and as chair of the Department of Economics.

Department colleagues describe Green as an organized, hardworking individual who would make a good provost.

"He's very caring about his students and about the University," says Barker Professor of Economics Stephen A. Marglin.

Bell Professor of Economics Jeffrey G. Williamson says Green is committed to Harvard, as well as to his scholarship, and has been "all along."

"I think he'd make a superb candidate for the job," says Williamson.

Marglin says Green did "a very good job" as chair of the Economics Department between 1984 to 1987. "He was very fair-minded, and he worked very hard at it," says Marglin.

Green is also a diligent and prolific scholar, who has published 87 research papers and articles in the past 22 years. He won a Guggenheim fellowship in 1987.

Berkman Professor of Economics Andreu Mas-Colell says Green's research has focused on a variety of topics, including both theory and applications. Green's recent work has been on tax enforcement and aspects of behavior in risky situations, MasColell says.