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IMF SEMINAR EVENT

DATE: October 9, 2014

DAY: Thursday

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

LOCATION: George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium

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Overview

An uneven global recovery continues but growth has weakened in 2014—reflecting a surprisingly weak first quarter in the United States and a less optimistic outlook for several large emerging market economies. Global growth is expected to rebound but downside risks remain a concern. Market conditions have noticeably eased alongside disappointing growth, but risks to financial stability are a key concern from an extended period of low rates and from a possible reversal of recent risk spread and volatility compression. Geopolitical risks have risen in some corners. Looking ahead, global growth could be weaker for longer. Robust demand momentum in advanced economies has yet to emerge, and supply-side constraints and tighter financial conditions over the past year in some major emerging market economies weigh on growth. Amid these economic and financial worries, there is renewed interest on exchange rates and reform of an international monetary system with de facto dollar dominance. The debate will focus on how policymakers could collaborate globally to better manage the risks and durably boost jobs and growth.

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CNN Debate on the Global Economy

CNN Debate on the Global Economy

Panelists

Moderator: Richard Quest

Richard Quest

Richard Quest is CNN's international business correspondent and  anchor of Quest Means Business (QMB). QMB, which airs on CNN International. Guests of the show included world leaders, bankers, ministers of finance, leaders of the IMF/World Bank and influential names in corporate America. Quest has regularly reported from G20 meetings and attends the WEF each year. Prior to joining CNN, he worked at the BBC, where he was the North America business correspondent, based on Wall Street for 12 years. Quest is British, holds an LLB degree in Law from Leeds University.

Panelist: Zeti Akhtar Aziz

Appointed Governor in 2000, Dr. Zeti has had an important role in the successful transformation of the financial system in Malaysia including overseeing the enactment of eight new major legislations for the financial sector.  Dr. Zeti is also actively involved in strengthening regional financial integration in Asia.  She chaired the regional taskforce that prepared the report for future financial cooperation in the region.

Panelist: Agustin Carstens

Agustín Carstens holds a M.A. (1983) and a Ph.D. (1985) in economics from the University of Chicago and a B.A. (1982) in economics from the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM). Dr. Carstens held several positions at the central bank, including Governor since early 2010. At the Ministry of Finance, he served as Deputy Minister from 2000 to 2003 and as Finance Minister from 2006 to 2009. At the IMF, he served as Executive Director from 1999 to 2000 and as Deputy Managing Director from 2003 to 2006. While serving as Mexico’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Carstens also chaired the IMF and World Bank Joint Development Committee. Since March 2015, he is the Chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC). He was named Central Bank Governor of the Year by The Banker in 2011 and by Euromoney in 2013. In June 2013 he received from the University of Chicago the Professional Achievement Award as a distinguished alumnus.

Panelist: Jeroen Dijsselbloem

Jeroen Dijsselbloem has been Eurogroup President since January 2013, Chair of the Board of Governors of the European Stability Mechanism since February 2013, and Minister of Finance of the Netherlands since November 2012. Previously, he was a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (2000-12), and advisor to the Dutch Minister of Agriculture (1996-98). He studied business and agricultural economics at Wageningen University (1985-1991) and completed business economics research towards a master's degree from University College Cork, Ireland.

Panelist: Stanley Fischer

Stanley Fischer is Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.  From 2005 to 2013 he was Governor of the Bank of Israel.  Fischer was Vice Chairman of Citigroup from 2002 through 2005.  From 1994 to 2001, he was the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF.  He served as Chief Economist of the World Bank from 1988 to 1990.  From 1973 to 1994, Fischer was a member of the MIT Economics Department.  Fischer was born in Zambia in 1943. 

Panelist: Christine Lagarde

Christine Lagarde has been Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund since July 2011. She held various ministerial positions within the French government, including Finance and Economy Minister (2007–11), Minister for Foreign Trade, and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. She was also Chairman of the Global Executive Committee and Global Strategic Committee of Baker & McKenzie.