2009 Raymond Aron Lecture: Jean Pisani-Ferry on the Transatlantic Economy After the Global Financial Crisis

On October 26, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted Jean Pisani-Ferry, a leading French economist, to deliver the Sixth Annual Raymond Aron Lecture. Mr. Pisani-Ferry has been the director of the Bruegel Institute, a Brussels think tank devoted to the study of international economics, since its creation in 2005. A professor of economics at the University of Paris-Dauphine, Mr. Pisani-Ferry has held a number of senior positions as economic adviser to the European Commission, the French prime minister and the minister of finance.

Mr. Pisani-Ferry assessed the impact of the global financial crisis on the closely intertwined economies of Europe and the United States, and their influence on the world economy. He explored what recent changes in the institutions of global governance imply for the transatlantic relationship and how these transformations should affect the U.S.-EU agenda.

Following Mr. Pisani-Ferry’s remarks, C. Fred Bergsten offered a response. Dr. Bergsten has been director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics since its creation in 1981.

Fiona Hill, a national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council who is on leave as a Brookings senior fellow, provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion. After the program, panelists took audience questions. The lecture series, named after the renowned scholar of post-war France, features leading French and American scholars and statesmen speaking on critical issues affecting the transatlantic relationship.