Pérsio Arida (born 1 March 1952 in São Paulo) is a Brazilian economist and a former president of the Central Bank of Brazil.

In 1995, he served as the president of the Central Bank of Brazil and Special Secretary of Social-Economic Coordination, Ministry of Planning.

In the private sector, he was a board member of Banco Itaú Holding Financeira S.A. and Banco Itaú S.A., board member of Sul-América S.A, director of Opportunity Asset Management Ltda., board member of Unibanco S.A. and special adviser for the presidency and director of Brasil Warrant Ltd.

[1] As of 2008[update], he is working as a member of the executive council of the Moreira Salles Institute.

[2] He is also a member of the International Advisory Board at the Blavatnik School of Government (University of Oxford)[3] and a member of the Academic Board of Livres.