Pietro Balestra (April 2, 1935 – June 23, 2005) was a Swiss economist specializing in econometrics.
Balestra returned to Switzerland as Professor of Economics and Econometrics at the University of Fribourg.
In 1980 he was called to chair the Department of Econometrics at the University of Geneva.
His outside connections were critical in gathering support from the Swiss science council.
As the first treasurer of the European Economic Association, Balestra was instrumental in gathering financial support for this Pan-European scientific society.