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Simon Bowmaker
Clinical Professor of Economics at NYU Stern School of Business
Simon Bowmaker is a distinguished economist with a versatile academic and professional background in economics.
He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of St Andrews, an M.Phil. in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and an M.A. in Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Aberdeen.
Simon Bowmaker has an extensive teaching experience having held positions such as Clinical Professor of Economics at NYU Stern School of Business, Visiting Lecturer in Economics at Imperial College Business School and several other prestigious institutions.
Apart from his academic roles, he has also contributed to various organizations as a Visiting Senior Fellow at The London School of Economics and Political Science, Visiting Associate Professor of Economics at Stanford University, and Visiting Clinical Associate Professor of Economics at Stanford University among others.
Additionally, Simon Bowmaker has prior work experience as an Economist at Caledonian Economics, Assistant Economist at The Scottish Government, and U.K. Economist at HSBC Global Banking and Markets, showcasing his expertise in applying economic principles in real-world settings.
Highlights
I am excited to sign a book contract with Yale University Press. Fed Reckoning: Conversations on America’s Central Bank is scheduled for release in 2025. Here is the book’s description: Fed Reckoning presents twenty interviews with influential policymakers from past to present at the Federal Reserve, and with leading figures who closely watch its actions from the outside. The conversations provide a unique insight into the inner workings of arguably the most powerful economic institution in the world—its monetary policy decision-making process; its internal structure and governance; its communications framework; its regulatory and supervisory functions; its role as the world’s central bank; and its relationships with individuals and groups such as the president of the United States, Congress, and financial markets. Along the way, the interviews also examine how the Federal Reserve’s interpretation of its dual mandate—price stability and full employment—has evolved over time, and whether its growing concern with a wide array of hot-button social and political issues—from inequality to climate change—threatens its long-term independence. They evaluate the Federal Reserve’s responses to some of the most tumultuous events of the 21st century—including the financial crisis of 2007-2008; the economic crisis caused by COVID-19; the recent high rate of inflation experienced by the US and elsewhere; and the 2023 banking crisis. The interviews also address the challenges posed by innovations in financial technology and the payment system, such as a central bank digital currency. From interviewees with direct access to the policymaking process, the book offers specific and personal details of their time at the Federal Reserve—the pressure, the successes, the disappointments, and the surprising isolation. It also sheds new light on the contrasting personalities and work styles of Federal Reserve chairs, including Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and Jerome Powell. This important aspect of the book provides an intriguing insight into the human dimension of life at the Fed. At a time when more people are conscious of the Federal Reserve’s impact on their daily lives—and it comes under greater political and media scrutiny than ever before—this book will appeal to anyone interested in a refreshingly candid perspective on its history and its current path. A great deal of hard work awaits, but I am looking forward to it!
Big thank you to Professor Lisa D. Cook for a wonderful Q&A session with my NYU Stern graduate students last night. Lisa is a professor in the Department of Economics and in International Relations at Michigan State University, and she has been actively involved in US economic policymaking. As a Council on Foreign Relations International Fellow from 2000 to 2001, she was Senior Adviser on Finance and Development at the US Treasury Department, where she worked with Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, among other senior officials, investigating the problems of financial crises and heavily indebted countries. From November 2008 to January 2009, Lisa was on the Obama Presidential Transition Team and led the review of the World Bank and International Affairs Division of the Treasury Department. In the 2011-2012 academic year, Lisa was a Senior Economist at the President's Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration, and worked on the euro zone, financial instruments, innovation, and entrepreneurship. More recently, she served on the Biden Presidential Transition Team. Outside of US economic policymaking, she has also advised the governments of Nigeria and Rwanda. Thank you again to Lisa for sharing her unique experiences of the policymaking world!
