Podcast
Macro Matters
Hosted by Bretton Woods Committee · EN
Macro Matters is a podcast where global experts share candid insights on pressing issues in international economics. Each episode, host and BWC Executive Director Emily Slater sits down with guests from BWC’s own global membership to offer clear-eyed analysis on global economic policy. In a noisy media landscape, these conversations are designed to offer clarity. Guests will go beyond the headlines to explore not just what’s happening in the global economy—but why it’s happening, what it means, and what might come next. You can find Macro Matters on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, brettonwoods.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.
11episodes
Episodes
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Spring Meetings Takeaways: Where Do the Bretton Woods Institutions Go from Here?
Apr 2700:34:39Tap to summarizeIn the wake IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings 2026, Gerry Rice joins Emily Slater to unpack a week shaped by geopolitical tension, fragile economic sentiment, and record attendance in Washington. They assess the mood of the meetings, key takeaways from the IMF and World Bank—including expanded financing commitments—and what recent outcomes from the WTO Ministerial signal for the future of global trade. As multilateral governance adapts to a more fragmented and shock-prone world, Rice offers perspectives on where institutions are still delivering pragmatic cooperation and where deeper reform is needed. Gerry Rice has served as the Director of Communications for both the IMF and the World Bank. He now serves on the Advisory Council of the Bretton Woods Committee.
Transcribe →Can Stablecoins Safely Scale into the Global Financial System?
Mar 2500:32:06Tap to summarizeStablecoins are no longer experimental; they are becoming a core part of global finance, raising new questions about regulation, monetary sovereignty, and the future of financial infrastructure. In this episode of Macro Matters, Heath Tarbert joins Emily Slater to discuss the rise of stablecoins, the evolving regulatory frameworks, and how global approaches—from Washington to Singapore—are shaping the next phase of digital finance. As the financial system begins to move onchain, what will it take to build the infrastructure and coordination needed to support it? Heath Tarbert is the President of Circle and a member of BWC's Advisory Council. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets as well as Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Special Counsel to the Senate Banking Committee.
Transcribe →Can Latin America Lead the Next Global Growth Wave?
Feb 600:40:10Tap to summarizeLatin America finds itself in a pivotal moment. Fresh from CAF’s Economic Forum in Panama City, this episode of Macro Matters explores how the region is navigating a shifting global order, renewed U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere, and growing momentum around regional integration. Susan Segal joins host Emily Slater to unpack key takeaways from the conference, discuss why integration has reemerged as a central theme, and share why she is more optimistic than ever about Latin America’s future—from investment and multilateralism to leadership on the global stage. Susan Segal is the President and CEO of Americas Society/Council of the Americas. She has spent decades working across Latin America in both the private and public sectors, including during the region’s debt crises of the 1980s and 1990s. She has been deeply involved in Bretton Woods Committee sovereign debt work and currently serves on its Advisory Council.
Transcribe →What’s Driving India’s Rise as a Global Economic Power?
Nov 1300:40:40Tap to summarizeIndia’s economic momentum is reshaping the global landscape. From rapid growth and expanding trade ties to digital innovation and a multi-alignment foreign policy, India is emerging as a central player in the world economy. In this episode, Udaibir S. Das joins host Emily Slater to unpack what’s fueling India’s rise, how its strategic choices are landing on the global stage, and what this means for the future of global economic governance. Udaibir S. Das is the former General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India. He has held senior roles at the IMF and the Bank for International Settlements, including leading Basel III implementation at the BIS. He currently serves as a non-resident fellow at the National Council of Applied Economic Research and as a non-resident adviser to the Bank of England and the Toronto Centre.
Transcribe →Can Brazil Chart its Own Course in a Changing Global Order?
Oct 2300:47:55Tap to summarizeRecorded during the week of the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, this episode of Macro Matters features Joaquim Levy. As the world enters an era of multipolar competition and rising protectionism, Brazil has taken an approach defined by economic resilience, pragmatic diplomacy, and "Active Non-Alignment." We'll be discussing the drivers behind this recent growth, Brazil's role within an expanded BRICS coalition, and its ambitions for greater global influence. Levy also shares his expectations for the 2025 Annual Meetings, his prediction for Brazil's upcoming elections, and what Brazil's trajectory can teach us about navigating today's complex global economic landscape. Joaquim Levy is Director for Economic Strategy and Market Relations at Banco Safra and former Brazilian Minister of Finance. With extensive experience spanning the World Bank, the Brazilian Development Bank, and other IFIs, Levy helps us explore how Brazil is positioning itself amid shifting global dynamics.
Transcribe →Are Central Banks Future Proof? From the BIS Innovation Summit
Sep 1900:39:21Tap to summarizeFor this special edition of Macro Matters, Stefan Ingves joins us in Switzerland during the BIS Innovation Summit to continue the conversation on future-proofing central banks amid a rapidly changing global financial landscape. Central banks face mounting pressures—from persistent inflation and political scrutiny to diverging policy paths around the world. At the same time, financial innovation is reshaping money and payments faster than regulators can respond. Stefan explores how central banks can navigate these challenges while maintaining independence, ensuring stability, and fostering global cooperation. Stefan Ingves spent 17 years as Governor of the Sveriges Riksbank, Sweden's central bank. Previously, he was chairman of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and chairman of the Banking and Risk Management Committee at the BIS.
Transcribe →Old Mandates, New Pressures — What is the Future of the Fed?
Sep 800:35:30Tap to summarizeCentral banking is at a crossroads. From inflation and dollar dominance to executive orders and rapid financial innovation, the Fed faces no shortage of challenges. In this episode, Bill Dudley joins host Emily Slater to discuss how the Fed and other central banks are navigating these pressures, what to expect from the September FOMC, and what central bank independence really means in today’s global economy. Bill Dudley is the Chair of the Bretton Woods Committee. He previously served as the president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, during which time he was the vice chairman and a permanent member of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Transcribe →Is the U.S. Abandoning International Development?
Aug 2100:48:36Tap to summarizeAfter decades of bipartisan support, US foreign aid architecture is undergoing significant structural and political shifts. Recent developments include a restructuring of USAID, growing support for institutions like the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and changing perspectives on multilateral engagement. With this in mind, we're asking what are the Trump administration’s priorities when it comes to foreign aid? And where is U.S. policy on foreign assistance going from here? Executive Director Emily Slater is joined by Daniel Runde and Pilar Frank O’Leary to unpack these critical questions. Daniel Runde is a senior advisor with BGR Group. He was a former senior vice president at CSIS and former director of USAID’s Office of Global Development Alliances. Pilar Frank O’Leary is the Founder and President of PFO Advisory Group, where she advises Fortune 100 companies, leading foundations, and multilateral institutions on their strategic engagement across Latin America.
Transcribe →Foreign Aid’s Future: Crisis, Course Correction, or Comeback?
Aug 600:41:25Tap to summarizeAs global crises mount and budgets tighten, governments are rethinking how—and even whether—they deliver foreign aid. Once a cornerstone of international cooperation, foreign aid is now under growing scrutiny. On this episode of Macro Matters, Baroness Minouche Shafik joins BWC Executive Director Emily Slater to answer "Foreign Aid's Future: Crisis, Course Correction, or Comeback?" With decades of experience at the IMF, World Bank, Bank of England, and the UK’s Department for International Development, she is more than well-equipped to help us explore the future of international development.
Transcribe →Fine Wine or Vinegar: How Well Has the Global Economic Architecture Aged?
Jul 2300:38:52Tap to summarizeOn this week's episode of Macro Matters, BWC Executive Director Emily Slater is joined by Nancy Jacklin to discuss whether the global economic architecture and the Bretton Woods institutions are equipped for today's global economy. Nancy is a former U.S. Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund. She served as Assistant General Counsel for the Federal Reserve Board of governors and an attorney at the US Treasury. She was a Partner at Clifford Chance, LLP where she was an advisor on international finance and financial regulation issues.
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