Maurice Obstfeld

Maurice Obstfeld

Leading Authority on the Global Economy & Former IMF Chief Economist

Core Intelligence Domain: Global Economics & Finance
Location: USA | Languages: English
Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

Maurice Obstfeld is one of the world’s most influential macroeconomic voices, bringing unparalleled strategic foresight to the complexities of global trade, international finance, and economic policy. As the former Economic Counsellor and Director of Research (Chief Economist) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he has advised top-tier global policymakers and navigated the world economy through periods of significant geopolitical and financial volatility. Today, he leverages his deep institutional knowledge and proprietary analytical frameworks to help global organisations, financial institutions, and multinational corporations decode the shifting paradigms of international markets.

Currently serving as the Class of 1958 Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and a Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), Obstfeld’s academic and advisory footprint is foundational to modern economic theory. He served as a critical Member of President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers from 2014 to 2015, where he provided pivotal guidance on international economic issues, trade agreements, and macroeconomic stability. His scholarly contributions are universally recognised across the academic and financial sectors, most notably as the co-author of two seminal texts: Foundations of International Macroeconomics (with Kenneth Rogoff) and International Economics: Theory and Policy (with Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman and Marc Melitz).

Obstfeld’s empirical research continuously shapes the global understanding of exchange rate dynamics, financial crises, and the architecture of the international monetary system. He offers institutional leaders a unique, data-driven lens through which to anticipate regulatory shifts, inflation trends, and the macroeconomic impacts of geopolitical fragmentation. With a career dedicated to analysing the interdependencies of national economies, Obstfeld transforms complex economic data into actionable intelligence for boardrooms worldwide.

Primary Speaking Topics & Strategic Briefings

• The Global Economic Outlook: Navigating inflation, growth deceleration, and the trajectory of central bank policies in an unpredictable macroeconomic landscape.
• The Future of Globalisation: Understanding the economic fallout of geopolitical fragmentation, trade wars, tariffs, and global supply chain restructuring.
• International Financial Systems: The evolution of global capital markets, exchange rate volatility, and the enduring (or shifting) role of the US Dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency.
• Macroeconomic Policy & Crisis Management: Lessons from the IMF on averting sovereign debt crises, managing financial instability, and fostering resilient fiscal policies.
• Climate Change & The Macroeconomy: Evaluating the economic implications of the global energy transition, green finance initiatives, and climate-related regulatory shifts.

Key Takeaways

• Unrivalled Institutional Expertise: Actionable economic intelligence derived directly from a former IMF Chief Economist and White House economic advisor.
• Strategic Foresight: Proprietary frameworks for understanding the complex intersection of global geopolitics, international trade, and capital flows.
• Policy Translation: Clear, authoritative interpretation of complex central bank policies and their direct, tangible impact on corporate strategy and investment portfolios.
• Academic Rigour Meets Practical Application: High-level insights grounded in decades of foundational economic research, tailored specifically to empower C-suite decision-makers, government officials, and institutional investors.