BSP hosts 4th International Research Fair on central bank policy

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. (center) together with (from left) Monetary Board Member (MBM) Walter C. Wassmer, the Governor’s fellow keynote speaker Bilkent University Professor of Economics Refet S. Gürkaynak, and MBMs Rosalia V. De Leon and Romeo L. Bernardo. MBM Benjamin E. Diokno (not in picture) delivered the welcome remarks.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) successfully concluded its 4th International Research Fair (IRF) from July 30 to 31, 2024, at the BSP Complex, focusing on “Emerging Trends Shaping Central Bank Policy and Operations.”

The event brought together global experts to discuss the latest research relevant to central banking, with a particular emphasis on issues like economic fragmentation, sustainability, and digitalization.

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. highlighted the need for central banks to stay ahead of fast-changing global trends.

“As with all new or fast-changing developments, we need to understand them as best and as quickly as we can so we can address them as well, if not better, than those we have faced in the past,” Remolona said during his keynote address.

Professor Refet S. Gürkaynak from Bilkent University also delivered a keynote, discussing the accumulation behavior of reserves by countries.

The event featured participants from major financial institutions, including the Bank of England, International Monetary Fund, and Asian Development Bank, and was attended by approximately 100 delegates from various policy-making organizations and academic institutions.

The IRF has grown into a significant platform for cutting-edge research on central banking, particularly in the context of the Philippines and other developing economies.

This year’s discussions covered topics ranging from central bank digital currencies to the effects of climate change on the economy, underscoring the evolving challenges facing global financial systems.