Gone fishing: our economics editor's Jackson Hole diary

去钓鱼:我们经济编辑的杰克逊霍尔日记

Money Talks from The Economist

2025-08-28

39 分钟
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The annual gathering of central bankers in Jackson Hole is usually spent poring over speeches for clues on interest rates, and in high-minded scholarly discussion. But this year there was a twist. On the eve of the conference, President Trump threatened to sack one of the Fed's governors. Fortunately, our economics editor Henry Curr was there with a microphone to capture the action as it unfolded.  Hosts: Alice Fulwood, Ethan Wu and Mike Bird. Guests: The Economist's Henry Curr. Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+.
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  • In 1982, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City had a problem.

  • They wanted to hold an economic symposium on monetary policy.

  • And they wanted Paul Volcker to attend.

  • But how could they lure the Fed chair to their event?

  • What makes it the most special is the fact that it's one of the few places you can float and fish in the United States.

  • It's just a beautiful place in Wyoming.

  • Volker was an avid fly fisher,

  • and the best place for fly fishing in late August turned out to be Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

  • Picking it as the location for the conference worked.

  • Volker accepted the invitation.

  • And for more than four decades, the world's central bankers have been back almost every year.

  • Jackson Hole is an economic conference like none other.

  • Central bankers, economists, and journalists from across the world discuss academic papers,

  • and then go for hikes in the Grand Tetons.

  • But the big event is the Fed chair's address, this year delivered by Jerome Powell.

  • The Kansas City Fed was very wise to lure Chair Volker here to this national park more than 40 years ago,

  • and I am so proud to be part of that tradition.

  • Around the time of that first Jackson Hole meeting,

  • there were reports that the Fed chair and the president were at loggerheads over the speed of interest rate cuts.

  • even suggestions that the White House wanted Volcker gone.