[4] In 1993, Pochmann completed a doctorate in Economic Sciences at the State University of Campinas (Unicamp),  defending the dissertation entitled Labor and Income Guarantee Policies in Changing Capitalism.

In 2001, Pochmann was appointed municipal secretary of Development, Labor and Solidarity for the city of São Paulo by mayor Marta Suplicy In this role, he was responsible for managing social inclusion and job creation programs.

[8] In 2007, Pochmann assumed the presidency of the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea), after receiving an invitation from Minister Mangabeira Unger.

Pochmann's selection for the position was considered a strengthening of the developmental wing of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva 's government.

According to some journalists, the choice of Pochmann caused discomfort among the team at the Ministry of Planning and Budget, who had perfered a technocratic rather than political appointement, like that of Luciana Servo at IPEA.

[17] In November, Pochmann said in a lecture to employees that he intended to change the research dissemination model, not going through press conferences by the mainstream media.