A conference on the theme “Macro and Growth Policies: A Post Crisis Conversation” will be held at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, DC on March 7-8. The conference will be hosted by four of the world’s most noted economists, including Nobel laureates Michael Spence (Stanford University) and Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University), and Olivier Blanchard (Economic Counsellor and Director of Research at the IMF), and David Romer (University of California, Berkeley). The event will bring together leading policymakers and academics from both advanced and emerging countries.

The aim of the conference is to distill the policy lessons of the global financial crisis. Participants will focus on six key areas: monetary policy, fiscal policy, financial intermediation and regulation, capital account management, growth strategies, and international coordination and globalization. They will also seek to make concrete policy recommendations for how to revive sustainable growth while safeguarding macroeconomic and financial stability.

“The crisis has clearly shown both the limits of markets and the limits of government intervention. It is time to take stock, and draw a first set of lessons,” Mr. Blanchard said. “Given the IMF’s mandate to advise its 187 member countries on economic and financial policies, it needs to be at the forefront of this effort. I look forward to this important conference.”

The conference will be open to participation by the general public and media. A conference website, which will allow the proceedings to be webcast live will be launched shortly.