Squawk Pod The Future of the Fed: Austan Goolsbee & Krishna Guha 4/21/25
Apr 21, 2025
Austan Goolsbee, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and former economic advisor under Obama, teams up with Krishna Guha, Vice Chairman at Evercore ISI and central banking expert. They dive into the current state of the economy, scrutinizing the Fed's inflation strategies amid political pressures. Guha discusses the potential fallout of threats to Fed leadership, while Goolsbee emphasizes the critical need for central bank independence. The duo also reflects on how tariffs influenced economic policy, providing insights into the future landscape of monetary challenges.
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Business Leaders' Pilgrimages to Pope Francis
- Andrew Ross Sorkin shared how many CEOs from diverse backgrounds visited Pope Francis pre-pandemic to discuss ESG and inclusive capitalism.
- These leaders genuinely sought the pope's approval and collaboration on climate change and inclusive corporate practices.
Markets Resist Fed Chair Dismissal
- Market confidence sharply drops at any hint of Fed Chair Powell's dismissal due to fears over Fed independence.
- Removing Powell would likely trigger severe market turmoil with falling equities and a weaker dollar.
Maintain Fed Chair Independence
- The next Fed chair should maintain strong independence and credibility to succeed.
- The administration must avoid selecting someone who serves at the president's beck and call to ensure market confidence.