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Matthew Bishop      

Nonresident Senior Fellow of Global Economy and Development at the Center for Sustainable Development

Matthew Bishop is a nonresident senior fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development, housed within the Global Economy and Development program at the Brookings Institution. He is also a founder and board member of the Social Progress Imperative, which publishes the Social Progress Index. He was previously managing director of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, following a 25-year career as a writer, editor, and conference curator at The Economist, including as the magazine’s Global Business Editor, New York Bureau Chief, Wall Street Editor, and Economics Correspondent.

His research focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and systems change, particularly the role of the private sector and multistakeholder coalitions in delivering social progress. His 2008 book “Philanthrocapitalism: How Giving Can Save the World,” written with Michael Green, was described by Michael Bloomberg as “the definitive guide to a new generation of philanthropists who understand innovation and risk-taking, and who will play a crucial part in solving the biggest problems facing the world.” His other books include “The Road from Ruin,” an agenda to reform capitalism in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, and “Economics A to Z,” the official Economist introduction to economics.

In 2018, with John McArthur, he cofounded “17 Rooms,” a Brookings/Rockefeller initiative to facilitate action-oriented expert collaboration around accelerating progress on the SDGs. He was the official report author for the G-8 Taskforce on Social Impact Investment in 2015 and was a member of the Advisors Group of the United Nations International Year of Microcredit in 2005. He also co-founded the #givingtuesday campaign.

Bishop is a graduate of Oxford University and was on the faculty of London Business School. He was honored by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader and chaired the WEF Global Agenda Council on Philanthropy and Social Innovation. He is a judge of the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling.

Speech Topics

Gold, Money, and the Economy.

There have been few better-performing investments in the past decade than gold, which as recently as the end of the 1990s was being dismissed as a historic relic by many experts. Despite its extraordinary performance, some critics still believe that taking an interest in gold is evidence of craziness or of being very right-wing, but in an entertaining and insightful talk, Matthew Bishop explains that everyone should take gold seriously because of what its price tells us about subjects such as the health of the economy, the outlook for inflation, the priorities and competence of government, and the prospects for paper currencies such as the dollar. Drawing from his book, In Gold We Trust? The Future of Money In An Age of Uncertainty, which is full of fascinating historical detail about gold and the evolution of today’s money, he explains what the current gold price reveals about the future of the economy, and what is likely to happen to gold and other investments in future.

How to Reinvent Capitalism and Revive the U.S. Economy.

The moment that Lehman Brothers went bust, Matthew Bishop realized that the coming recession would not be the usual quick sort, and that the U.S. economy would require fundamental reform to get it performing well again. In this talk, which draws on his influential book, The Road From Ruin, he explores the historical context behind the recent financial collapse and the changes and challenges we must face to avoid another cataclysmic crash. He also provides a progress report, looking at how well America is doing in reforming itself, and what that means for the performance of the economy in the years ahead.

Outlook for the U.S. and/or Global Economy.

Matthew Bishop draws on his high-level contacts with investors, business leaders, and policymakers and his long experience writing for The Economist to highlight the big trends facing the U.S. and/or the global economy. Delivered with insight and typical British wit and combined with engaging visuals, Bishop looks at the outlook for growth and jobs; the health of the manufacturing, service, and financial sectors; the impact of politics on the economy; and where the dollar (and euro) are headed.

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