Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The Peterson Institute for International Economics hosts an exclusive discussion titled "International Imbalances Again? Still? Forever?" examining the persistence, drivers, and policy implications of global trade and current account imbalances in today's economic landscape. Moderated by PIIE C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow Maurice Obstfeld, the session features PIIE senior fellow Joseph E. Gagnon, Hélène Rey of the London Business School and CEPR, Alan Taylor of Columbia University, and Isabel Vansteenkiste of the European Central Bank. In a focused conversation based on their up-to-the-minute research, they address what aspects of imbalances matter for current policy negotiations, the potential impact and responses to a second China shock amid record surpluses, and the outlook for shifts in the international monetary system in 2026 and beyond.
This timely discussion cuts through the headlines to deliver evidence-based insights and forward-looking analysis from leading experts.
MODERATOR
Maurice Obstfeld
C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow, PIIE
SPEAKERS
Joseph E. Gagnon
Senior Fellow, PIIE
Hélène Rey
Lord Bagri Professor of Economics, London Business School; Vice President, Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)
Alan Taylor
Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; External Member, Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England
Isabel Vansteenkiste
Director General, Directorate General European and International Relations, European Central Bank
For more information, visit:
piie.com/events/2026/international-imbalances-again-still-forever
Subscribe to receive notices of upcoming PIIE events:
piie.com/subscribe
Follow the Peterson Institute for International Economics on social media!
Twitter: twitter.com/piie
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The Peterson Institute for International Economics hosts an exclusive discussion titled "International Imbalances Again? Still? Forever?" examining the persistence, drivers, and policy implications of global trade and current account imbalances in today's economic landscape. Moderated by PIIE C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow Maurice Obstfeld, the session features PIIE senior fellow Joseph E. Gagnon, Hélène Rey of the London Business School and CEPR, Alan Taylor of Columbia University, and Isabel Vansteenkiste of the European Central Bank. In a focused conversation based on their up-to-the-minute research, they address what aspects of imbalances matter for current policy negotiations, the potential impact and responses to a second China shock amid record surpluses, and the outlook for shifts in the international monetary system in 2026 and beyond.
This timely discussion cuts through the headlines to deliver evidence-based insights and forward-looking analysis from leading experts.
MODERATOR
Maurice Obstfeld
C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow, PIIE
SPEAKERS
Joseph E. Gagnon
Senior Fellow, PIIE
Hélène Rey
Lord Bagri Professor of Economics, London Business School; Vice President, Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)
Alan Taylor
Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University; External Member, Monetary Policy Committee, Bank of England
Isabel Vansteenkiste
Director General, Directorate General European and International Relations, European Central Bank
For more information, visit:
piie.com/events/2026/international-imbalances-again-still-forever
Subscribe to receive notices of upcoming PIIE events:
piie.com/subscribe
Follow the Peterson Institute for International Economics on social media!
Twitter: twitter.com/piie
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/piie
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/piie.com
