Recent Highlights

Event Summary - Insider's Access: Third International Conference on Financing for Development

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On July 16th, 2015 the Bretton Woods Committee hosted a virtual conference featuring, Joachim von Amsberg, Vice President of Development Finance at the World Bank, who provided expert analysis on outcomes from the Third International Conference on Financing for Development live from Addis Ababa. Robert (Bob) J. Berg, Bretton Woods Committee member and former senior advisor to UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, and the UN Economic Mission to Africa moderated the discussion.

Bretton Woods Committee Members Testify Before Congress on Role of IMF

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On June 17, 2015, Bretton Woods Committee members, John Taylor of Stanford University and Clay Lowery of Rock Creek Global Advisors joined former IMF U.S. Executive Director Meg Lundsager in testifying before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade at the hearing, “The Impact of the International Monetary Fund: Financial Stability or Moral Hazard?”. Against the backdrop of the current Greek crises, participants assessed the efficacy of the Fund, weighed the significance of U.S.

Congressional Perspectives on Trade

By: Bill Reinsch, President, National Foreign Trade Council; Bretton Woods Committee Member

America Needs Trade Promotion Authority

Every year around this time, the Washington trade policy community hypothesizes on what to expect on trade in the coming months. We set high hopes for the conclusion of agreements and passage of trade legislation that will keep our economy moving in the right direction. While no one knows for sure exactly what the future holds for trade in 2015, one thing is certain: America needs Trade Promotion Authority (TPA).

Event Summary - Windows into the IFIs: The Outlook for Economic Growth and Investment in Asia

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On January 27, the Bretton Woods Committee hosted its first virtual conference, Windows Into the IFIs: The Outlook for Economic Growth and Investment in Asia. The event featured remarks from Joseph E. Zveglich, Director of the Macroeconomics Research Division of the Asian Development Bank on the ADB's recently released report, Asian Development Outlook Supplement: Growth Hesitates in Developing Asia. Sir David Wright, Vice Chairman at Barclays, offered follow-up commentary and questions.

Windows into the IFIs: The Outlook for Economic Growth and Investment in Asia

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by invitation only
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GoToWebinar
Recap

On January 27, the Bretton Woods Committee hosted its first virtual conference, Windows Into the IFIs: The Outlook for Economic Growth and Investment in Asia. The event featured remarks from Joseph E. Zveglich, Director of the Macroeconomics Research Division of the Asian Development Bank on the ADB's recently released report, Asian Development Outlook Supplement: Growth Hesitates in Developing Asia. Sir David Wright, Vice Chairman at Barclays, offered follow-up commentary and questions. The discussion was facilitated by Randy Rodgers, Executive Director of the Bretton Woods Committee.

Dr. Zveglich emphasized that growth rates in the developing parts of Asia (all countries in the region except Japan) lost momentum in late 2014 and are not expected to rise dramatically in 2015. However, some countries in the region, particularly Papua New Guinea (who looks to export liquefied natural gases in 2015), are poised for large growth in the coming year. Growth prospects beyond 2015 will be influenced strongly by the pace of planned reforms, a topic that has been discussed widely in the press due to U.S. President Obama’s recent visit with Indian Prime Minister Modi. Zveglich also spoke to the unlikeliness of a taper tantrum as the U.S. ponders raising interest rates, saying that Asia seems to have already adjusted for this.

Sir David Wright followed up by highlighting the anticipation that global markets have for Modi’s India and the mixed impacts of the fall in oil prices. While low oil prices work against the drive for environmentally sustainable growth, the depreciating currency should provide a boon for manufacturing exporters. Chinese rebalancing was also discussed, as the country attempts to move from an investment to consumption-driven economy. Care must be taken during this transition, particularly in light of the complexity involved with unwinding the shadow banking sector without affecting the housing market. On a positive concluding note, Sir David discussed the improved second-tier diplomatic relations among countries in northeast Asia (Japan, China and South Korea).


Please click here for a full recording of the virtual conference.


Please click here for the ADB report, Asian Development Outlook Supplement: Growth Hesitates in Developing Asia


Please click here to view the slideshow presentation only.

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