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Current Account with Clay Lowery: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Institute of International Finance
From Washington, D.C. to financial centers around the world, Current Account brings listeners inside the conversations shaping the global economy. Each week, Institute of International Finance Executive Vice President Clay Lowery draws on his years at the U.S. Treasury and as a leader in the private sector to explore the intersection of geopolitics, markets, technology, debt, elections, and other forces transforming the financial system. Joined by industry experts and business leaders, each episode examines what matters most for the global financial industry and what comes next.
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- 1 weeks ago31 min
Episode 163 – Driven by Legacy? — Brazil and the Anti-Incumbency Shuffle
A surprising comeback has given President Lula a historic fourth term, but governing Brazil may prove more difficult than winning the election. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Christopher Garman, Managing Director for the Americas at Eurasia Group, to unpack what drove Lula’s victory and what comes next. They discuss the fiscal and economic challenges facing the new administration, the future of Brazil’s political right, and what investors will be watching as Lula begins another term. The conversation also looks beyond Brazil’s borders, exploring the country’s growing importance in energy, critical minerals, agriculture, and global trade, as well as how Lula may navigate relationships with the United States, China, and other major partners. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- 2 weeks ago28 min
Episode 162 – France, the Sick Man of Europe — What Comes Next?
France is facing a pivotal moment as political gridlock, mounting fiscal pressures, and public unrest converge ahead of next year’s presidential election. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Guillaume de Calignon, an international economics journalist at Les Echos, to unpack the forces driving France’s political and economic uncertainty. They discuss the roots of the country’s recent protests, the erosion of France’s political center and the challenges facing the next government as it confronts weak growth, high debt and persistent deficits. The conversation also examines what the presidential election could mean for France’s economic direction and how domestic political challenges could reshape the country’s influence within Europe. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- 3 weeks ago25 min
Episode 161 – The Elephant in the Room — Lessons From Bangkok
From artificial intelligence to sovereign debt and defense finance, a wide range of risks and opportunities dominated discussions in Bangkok. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Brad Carr, Executive for Geopolitical Risk at National Australia Bank, to reflect on the major themes emerging from the 2026 IIF Annual Membership Meeting and IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings. They explore the growing implications of AI competition and AI-enabled cyber risks, rising bond yields and fiscal pressures in developed economies, and the expanding role of private capital in financing defense and resilience. The conversation also examines how businesses and governments can adapt to geopolitical disruption by strengthening supply chains, infrastructure, and economic resilience in an increasingly uncertain global environment. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- 4 weeks ago24 min
Episode 160 – One Week in Bangkok — Kicking Off the IIF/IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings
As global financial leaders gather in Bangkok, attention is turning to the opportunities and challenges shaping Thailand and Southeast Asia. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Randy Thanthong-Knight, Bangkok Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News, to preview the conversations surrounding the IIF Annual Membership Meeting and IMF-World Bank meetings. They explore Thailand’s challenge of generating stronger growth despite a more resilient financial system, the region’s growing importance in global supply chains, and the investment opportunities emerging from EVs, semiconductors, AI, and infrastructure. The conversation also examines how Southeast Asian economies are navigating U.S.-China competition and whether Thailand can capitalize on shifting trade and investment patterns while moving toward its next stage of economic development. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- Oct 5, 202629 min
Episode 159 – A Wave, a Tsunami, or Something In Between? — Previewing the U.S. Midterms
With the U.S. midterm elections just weeks away, control of Congress hangs in the balance amid growing voter frustration over the economy, affordability, and the direction of the country. In this episode of Current Account, Clay Lowery is joined by Amy Walter, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Cook Report with Amy Walter, to assess the political landscape ahead of Election Day. They discuss whether Democrats are positioned to retake the House and Senate, the issues that are resonating most with voters, and why concerns about government dysfunction and corruption have become central campaign themes. The conversation also explores what divided government could mean for President Trump's policy agenda and what the election results may reveal about the trajectory of American politics heading into 2028. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- Sep 29, 202636 min
Episode 158 – Interdependence Strikes Back — Breaking Down the U.S.-China Summit
As the world’s two largest economies navigate an increasingly complex relationship, the second 2026 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping last week offered a fresh window into the future of competition and cooperation between Washington and Beijing. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Paul Haenle, Managing Director and Head of APAC Policy and Strategic Competitiveness at the JPMorganChase Center for Geopolitics; Samm Sacks, Senior Fellow at New America and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); and Logan Wright, Partner and Head of China Markets Research at Rhodium Group and author of the new book Broken China: How the Economic Miracle Shattered and What it Means for the World, to assess what emerged from the summit. Together, they explore the extension of the trade truce, the beginnings of an AI safety dialogue, the evolving economic balance between the two countries, and the deeper strategic tensions shaping the relationship, while also assessing whether recent stabilization efforts can endure future shocks amid persistent frictions over Taiwan, technology competition, and domestic political pressures. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- Sep 23, 202631 min
Episode 157 – Deterrence Is in the Eye of the Beholder — The Emergence of Defense Finance
Defense finance is rapidly moving from a niche policy topic to a central challenge for governments, investors, and financial institutions. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Wendy Gilmour, Vice Chair of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and former NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment, and Jakub Karnowski, CEO of KredoBank, to explore how countries are financing a new era of defense and security investment. They discuss the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, growing NATO spending commitments, and the role private capital can play in expanding defense capabilities, industrial capacity, and critical infrastructure. The conversation also examines what makes defense investments bankable and what a successful partnership between governments, industry, and financial markets could look like in the years ahead. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
- Sep 14, 202630 min
Episode 156 – Winter Has Come — U.S.-Canada Trade Relations Update
The relationship between the United States and Canada has long been defined by deep economic ties, shared security interests, and highly integrated supply chains. In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Michael von Herff, Founder and Managing Partner of PAA Advisory, to examine the recent escalation in trade tensions between the two countries. They discuss how a cycle of tariffs and retaliatory measures has transformed a trade dispute into a broader debate about economic leverage, sovereignty, and national strategy. The conversation explores Canada's response to growing pressure from its largest trading partner, the potential implications for defense and industrial policy, and whether this moment represents a temporary disruption or a more lasting shift in the U.S.-Canada relationship. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, and managed by Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.
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About Current Account with Clay Lowery
From Washington, D.C. to financial centers around the world, Current Account brings listeners inside the conversations shaping the global economy. Each week, Institute of International Finance Executive Vice President Clay Lowery draws on his years at the U.S. Treasury and as a leader in the private sector to explore the intersection of geopolitics, markets, technology, debt, elections, and other forces transforming the financial system. Joined by industry experts and business leaders, each episode examines what matters most for the global financial industry and what comes next.
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