Recorded 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.

For 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. 

Central 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.

After 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.

As 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. 

On 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.  

In the inaugural episode of Macro Matters, BWC Members and IMF experts, Mark Sobel and Elizabeth Shortino, sit down with Emily to discuss the current state of the IMF’s role in the global economy and recent reform proposals. Mark Sobel is the U.S. Chair of OMFIF and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Monetary and Financial Policy at the U.S. Treasury. Elizabeth Shortino is the Managing Director of Alvarez and Marsal and the former U.S. Executive Director at the IMF. 

The Bretton Woods Committee is pleased to announce the launch of Macro Matters, our newest podcast hosted by Executive Director Emily Slater. Each episode, global experts from BWC's membership offer clear-eyed analysis on global economic policy.