Willem Buiter Keynote Speaker

Visiting Professor of Economics at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (2019-2022)
Former Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Global Chief Economist and Special Economic Adviser, Citigroup - 2010-2019

Willem Buiter's Biography

Willem Buiter is an independent economic adviser. From 2019-2022, he was a Visiting Professor of Economics at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York

From 2010 till 2018, he was Global Chief Economist at Citigroup, he then became a Special Economic Adviser from 2018 – 2019. Willem was a founding external member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England from 1997 till 2000, Chief Economist and Special Counselor to the President at the EBRD from 2000 till 2005 and an Adviser to Goldman Sachs from 2005 till 2009.

He has been an adviser to the IMF, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Commission, central banks, finance ministries and corporations across the world. He is a member of the Advisory Scientific Committee of the European System Risk Board (ESRB). He also served as an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

He has a BA from Cambridge University and a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University. He has held full-time professorial appointments at Princeton University, the University of Bristol, the LSE, Yale University and Cambridge University. He is a Fellow of the British Academy. He was awarded a CBE for “services to economics’ in 2000. In 2012 he received a Honorary Doctorate from the University of Amsterdam.

He has published seven books on economics, the most recent book is ‘Central Banks as Fiscal Players‘, published in late 2020. He has written several hundred articles on monetary economics, open economy macroeconomics, international finance and public finance. Between 2007 and 2009 he wrote the very popular ‘Maverecon’ blog for the Financial Times. He is a frequent commentator on global economic developments and a keynote speaker who is known for his vast knowledge, deep insights on the economy and his quick wit.

Global economic outlook and risks

The new mediocrity: living with secular stagnation.

Are central banks out of ammo? The case for deeply negative interest rates

Financial implications of climate change.

Modern Monetary Theory: what’s right is not new and what’s new is not right.

Should we worry about US public debt and deficits?

Banking and finance in a world with secularly low interest rates.

He is one of the world’s most respected economists, bringing decades of experience at the highest levels of central banking, international finance and economic policymaking.
He translates complex global economic developments into clear, thought-provoking insights, helping leaders understand the forces shaping growth, inflation, financial markets and public policy.
He has advised governments, central banks, international institutions and major corporations around the world, offering a uniquely informed perspective on economic risk and opportunity.
He combines academic excellence with real-world experience, having held senior roles at Citigroup, the Bank of England, the EBRD and leading universities including Yale, Cambridge and the LSE.
His keynotes help executives, investors and policymakers navigate economic uncertainty, anticipate market shifts and better understand the challenges facing the global economy.