The OMFIF Podcast

Synopsis: IMF in peril, Europe's ever-closer union, and unconventional policy tools

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on the litany of challenges facing the International Monetary Fund and its new leadership, ever closer union in Europe, and the limits of conventional and unconventional monetary policy tools. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Imperilled co-operation at IMF annual meetings
2. IMF's raison d’être in jeopardy
3. Europe's fiscal fisticuffs
4. In conversation with Jean Boivin
5. Governor Marouane El Abassi in London
6. Deputy Governor Fernanda Nechio in New York
   
   

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Examining prospects for monetary and fiscal policy coordination

Jean Boivin, managing director and head of global research at the Blackrock Investment Institute, joins OMFIF’s Mark Sobel to discuss the limits of conventional and unconventional monetary policy tools, and the prospect for closer co-operation between monetary and fiscal policy. They touch upon the adverse impact of long-term low interest rates, the creation of an emergency fiscal facility and the potential risk to central bank independence.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

 

 

Synopsis: Carney's futuristic ideas, living with deflation, and the rise of 'reverse Yankees'

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, the deflationary precedent set by Japan for other advanced economies, and the proliferation of euro-denominated debt issuance. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Carney's proposals for multipolarity
2. Living with deflation
3. Euro-debt issuance rising in prominence
4. Global gold demand
5. A comprehensive look at OMFIF's forthcoming meetings around the globe

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Global gold demand: Prospects for central bank reserve portfolios

Kurtulus Taskale Diamondopoulos, director of central banks and public policy at the World Gold Council, joins Pierre Ortlieb, economist at OMFIF, to examine recent trends in global gold demand, the role of the official sector and prospects for central bank reserve asset portfolios. Gold is rising to a prominence not seen since the turn of the millennium, driven by an increasingly tense and fragmented international system, as well as unprecedented developments in capital markets.

 

For the World Gold Council survey of central banks mentioned in the podcast, please click here

 

For the most recent OMFIF report on gold, multilateral institutions, and the global reserve currency system, please click here

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Synopsis: Draghi helps Lagarde, trouble in US repo markets, and bugs in the system

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on the European Central Bank, trouble in US repo markets, and a digital special drawing right. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Draghi helps Lagarde gain her footing
2. Trouble in US repo markets
3. Digital SDR to enhance payment systems
4. OMFIF's autumn cybersecurity Bulletin
5. A divided committee at the Federal Reserve
6. Impact investing with the IFC
    

Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Fed Talk: a divided committee and mixed economic outlook

The Federal Reserve cut the fed funds rate by 25 basis points following intense discussion between divided Federal Open Market Committee members. The outlook for the US economy is mixed –unemployment is low and consumption solid, though concerns remain about a slowdown in manufacturing and the negative effects on investment of trade tensions. Mark Sobel, US chairman of OMFIF, is joined by Don Kohn, member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee and member of the Fed board of governors between 2002-10, and Bill Papadakis, macro strategist at Banque Lombard Odier & Sie, to discuss the Fed decision and the outlook for the US economy and monetary policy.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Synopsis: Christine Lagarde, RBI independence, and Cummings' clout

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, including those on Christine Lagarde as she prepares to take up the European Central Bank presidency, troubles at the Reserve Bank of India, and Boris Johnson's special adviser Dominic Cummings. All that, and more besides, coming up next. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Lagarde's challenge over ECB revolt
2. RBI's waning independence
3. A Spad with influence
4. Brian McMahon on public pensions
5. Scaling up sustainable infrastructure, Singapore
6. Peter Praet on ECB policy in New York
7. Fighting climate change-related risks with the ADBI in Tokyo
8. Lori Rennison of the Bank of Canada in London

 
Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

Public pensions: The shift into private markets

Brian McMahon, BNY Mellon’s senior alternative investment services business development executive in Luxembourg, joins OMFIF Economist Pierre Ortlieb to discuss the shifting nature of public pensions, their changing asset allocations and potential of private markets. The broad-based ‘retailisation’ of private asset classes remains a firm, albeit elusive, goal. The returns they promise are appealing to pension investors across the globe, but costs and valuation issues, among other things, remain significant obstacles.

 

Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Synopsis: UK-EU co-operation after Brexit, conflicting opinions at the Federal Reserve, and the governorship of the Bank of England

In this episode of Synopsis, OMFIF's weekly roundup of news and analysis, Senior Editor Julian Frazer looks back over the most recent articles published on the OMFIF website, covering such issues as UK-EU co-operation on financial regulation after Brexit, conflicting forces of opinion at the Federal Reserve, and Gerard Lyons’ candidacy for governor of the Bank of England. All that, and more besides, coming up next. To receive our newsletters,visit https://thinktank.omfif.org/subscribe.

Articles and other items referenced:

1. Capital markets look beyond EU
2. What Lyons could bring to the Bank
3. Fed divided ahead of key meeting
4. In Conversation with Willem Buiter
5. Oslo asset and risk management seminar
6. London digital finance forum

 
Music: Hey Mercy by Pierce Murphy is licensed under an Attribution License.

In conversation with Willem Buiter

Willem Buiter, special economic adviser at Citi, joins OMFIF’s Ellie Groves to discuss challenges facing the euro area. They assess the implications of a euro area slowdown at a time of high public debt, the role of the US-China trade conflict and the probability of a global recession for advanced economies. They also discuss the European Central Bank's monetary policy announcement, whether monetary policy tools have run their course, and the politics of fiscal stimulus.