In the lecture, titled “Pricking Bubbles in The Wind: Could Central Banks Have Done More To Head Off The Financial Crisis?” Sir Davies will examine whether monetary policy, especially in the US, was too loose in the in run-up to the crisis. 

“Central banks should in future pay more attention to credit growth and asset prices. But will need to do so without damaging consequences for output and employment? That will require a new framework for financial stability globally and nationally.”

Sir Davies is the former Chairman of the financial Services Authority, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and the former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry, as well as being on the International Advisory Board of Natwest.

Since 2003, he has been a member of the International Advisory councils of the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission. In 2004 he joined the board of Morgan Stanley as a non-executive director, and in 2006 joined the Board of Paternoster plc, a new insurance company.  In 2009 he became an advisor to the Government Investment Corporation of Singapore.

Throughout his career he has written widely for publications including the Financial Times, the Literary Review, The Times (UK), The Economist, the Times Literary Supplement and the Times Higher Education, among other publications. He has lectured extensively at home and overseas and is a regular participant in the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The David Finch lecture is an annual international guest lecture now in its twelfth year.  Topics focus on the subject of evolving practices and principles and related issues pertaining to international monetary, financial, fiscal and trade integration and cooperation.  Notable previous presenters include Raghuram Rajan, Jeffery Sachs, Stanley Fischer, Montek Singh Ahluwalla and Richard Cooper.

Event Details:
The 2009 David Finch Lecture
Delivered by Sir Howard Davies
“Pricking Bubbles in the Wind: Could Central Banks Have Done More To Head Off The Financial Crisis?”
6pm, Thursday 13 August 2009
The Basement Theatre, 198 Berkeley Street Carlton