Current Account with Clay Lowery
Hot topics in the financial industry from a U.S. politics and policy point of view.
1 year ago

Episode 90 – Zeitenwende - A Turning Point for Germany?

with Andreas Kluth, Bloomberg Opinion Columnist

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Andreas Kluth, an opinion columnist for Bloomberg covering US diplomacy, national security and geopolitics, to discuss the ongoing political and economic developments in Germany. Clay and Andreas dive into how and why the coalition government recently collapsed, the accelerated election timetable over the next few months, explain the "debt brake" and how it ties into recent economic stagnation, Germany's role within the European Union presently and going forward, the state of international relations throughout this period of instability and much more.

To sign up for the new Current Account newsletter through the IIF website, please click here.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 89 – Don't Call it a Comeback, I've Been Here for Years - Economic Impacts of Trump's Second Term

In this episode of Current Account, Clay dives into the long-awaited results of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections, which saw Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump secure his second term at helm, focusing on the economic strategy and fiscal policy implications of this outcome. Clay begins with the initial reaction to not only the outcome of the Presidential election, but the outcomes of the House and Senate races as well. For the remaining duration of the episode, Clay dives into key points in the Trump economic agenda, including the areas of trade, regulation, national debt, international relations and many others. Clay concludes the discussion looking ahead to President-elect Trump's upcoming decisions on open positions throughout his administration.

To sign up for the new Current Account newsletter through the IIF website, please click here.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 88 – A Panoply of Surprises - Update on Japanese Economic and Political Developments

with Jonathan Fortun, IIF Economist

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by IIF Economist Jonathan Fortun to discuss recent economic and political developments in Japan. Clay and Jonathan discuss a brief overview of the recent series of elections in Japan, before diving into the Bank of Japan's recent measures, how recent events may impact international relations, the recent pattern of coalition governments in major economies and more.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 87 – Unexpected Optimism? - Live from the 2024 IIF Annual Membership Meeting

with IIF's Melanie Idler, Raymond Aycock, Ivan Burgara and Hannah Anderson

In this episode of Current Account, Clay gives a live report from the 2024 IIF Annual Membership Meeting, with the help from a handful of IIF Staff members. Clay first reviews major themes, takeaways and discussions, including remarks from U.S. Department of the Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, before handing it off to his colleagues: Melanie Idler, an Associate Policy Advisor for Regulatory Affairs, covers the Regulation-steered portions of the meetings, Raymond Aycock, Senior Research Analyst for the Global Policy Initiatives Department goes over the conversations focused on Transition Finance, sessions on Economics and Emerging Markets were summarized by IIF Economist Ivan Burgara and Hannah Anderson, a Policy Advisor for the Digital Finance Department, gave a report on the discussions centered on Digital Finance.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 86 – Thriving in Turbulence - Previewing the 2024 IIF Annual Membership Meeting

with IIF President and CEO Tim Adams

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by IIF's President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Adams to preview the 2024 IIF Annual Membership Meeting, taking place in Washington, D.C., from October 22-25. Clay and Tim look ahead at many topics that stand to be at the forefront of discussion, including thoughts and effects surrounding current geopolitical risks, the state of emerging markets and the global state of debt, implementation of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital payments, impacts of the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections and much more.

Make sure to follow the 2024 IIF Annual Membership Meeting throughout the week!

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 85 – The Battle for Washington - Counting the Final Days Until the U.S. Elections

In this episode of Current Account, Clay revisits the upcoming Presidential Elections in the United States, this time with an eye on key policy themes and implementation from the two major party nominees: Current Vice President Kamala Harris (Democrat) and former President Donald Trump (Republican). The episode dives into where the race stands to date, how Congressional elections will impact either President-elect, the upcoming personnel decisions for the next sitting President, the proposed approaches to fiscal policy, potential changes in financial regulation, where each candidate may handle international trade policy and engagement, and much more.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 84 – A Blizzard of Ideas - Takeaways from New York Climate Week

with IIF's Sonja Gibbs, Managing Director, Global Policy Initiatives & Head of Sustainable Finance

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by IIF's Sonja Gibbs, Managing Director of Global Policy Initiatives and Head of Sustainable Finance, to recap an eventful New York Climate Week. Clay and Sonja talk about the major themes surrounding this year's meetings, including balancing a Brown vs Green transition strategy, the role of private and public funding in decarbonization efforts, how various jurisdictions approach reporting standards and impacts of EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), what role the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election may have in climate policy and more.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 83 – Draghi’s Choice – What Does the Draghi Report Mean for the Future of European Competition?

with Giovanna Faggionato, Financial Services Reporter for Politico Europe

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Giovanna Faggionato, a reporter for Politico Europe who has extensive experience covering competition, to discuss the recent report given by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Clay and Giovanna discuss the report's key themes and takeaways, focused on a plan to make the European Union more competitive economically. They discuss why Draghi was the author of this report, how he proposes to close the competition gap between the EU and the United States, challenges in implementing the report's recommendations, what steps may follow suit and more.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 82 – Can We Make a Discussion about Basel III Even More Interesting?

with IIF's Andrés Portilla, Managing Director of Regulatory Affairs and Richard Gray, Director of Prudential Policy

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by IIF's Andrés Portilla, Managing Director of Regulatory Affairs and Richard Gray, Director of Prudential Policy, to revisit the topic of Basel III implementation. The podcast covers how the United States Federal Reserve may look to repropose implementing Basel III, what metrics are being suggested in the reproposal process, the shifting implementation timeline, thinking of how other jurisdictions may monitor the Federal Reserve's process, the impact of the 2024 U.S. Presidential elections on impending steps and more.

For more information on Basel III, tune in to Episode 55: "Can We Make a Discussion about Basel Capital Accords Interesting?" where Clay, Andrés and Richard analyze the Basel III Endgame.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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1 year ago

Episode 81 – Global Economic Forecast with New IIF Chief Economist Marcello Estevão - Cloudy with a Chance of Optimism?

with IIF Managing Director and Chief Economist, Marcello Estevão

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by IIF's new Chief Economist and Managing Director, Marcello Estevão. Marcello joins the IIF with a plethora of experience in the financial industry, including stints at the World Bank, IMF, U.S. Federal Reserve Board, G20 Deputy for Brazil and many more. Clay and Marcello discuss a number of global economic topics at the macro level, including an update on the Federal Reserve and their probable rate cuts, current status of central banks in China and Japan, upcoming IIF work and ideas on capital flows, forecasting economic landscape for the near future and more.

This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

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