Stephen G. Cecchetti, head of the monetary and economic Department at the Bank for International Settlements and speaker at the upcoming Fourth Annual CFA Institute European Investment Conference, recently presented a research paper at the U.S. Federal Reserve symposium in Jackson Hole. While he was there, Professor Cecchetti had a chance to speak to news outlets and answer questions regarding his work and the earlier speech given by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Professor Cecchetti’s research examines the acceptable levels of debt that countries can maintain without damaging their potential for growth, focusing on the amount of public debt a country holds in relation to its GDP. While he feels that debt plays an important role for developing countries, he also thinks that it can become a drag on long-term growth for developed economies with high debt and no plans for fiscal consolidation.
In this interview with The Wall Street Journal, Professor Cecchetti discusses whether high debt in European countries is killing growth and comments on worldwide rates of inflation, growth, and interest:
Professor Cecchetti’s presentation at the Fourth Annual CFA Institute European Investment Conference will be on Reducing Systemic Risk: The Private Sector Must Be a Partner. He will discuss how systemic risk can reduce the frequency and severity of financial crises and look at ways that individual financial institutions can reinforce their risk control while encouraging the responsible behaviors of others.
