Former IMF Official Discusses the Fed's Meeting Decision and Policy Uncertainty

Former IMF deputy managing director and Global Economics Lab founding director Gita Gopinath joins the program to examine whether the Federal Reserve can afford to skip its current meeting, and what a transition away from forward guidance means for markets.

■ The Fed's Next Move
- Whether skipping this meeting is a reasonable choice, and expectations for December
- How a short delay affects financing conditions and monetary tightening
■ Policy Communication and Uncertainty
- The shift away from a forward guidance approach and its effect on market uncertainty
- How further press conferences and conversations may reduce that uncertainty
■ Conditions the Fed Is Watching
- Uncertainty around energy prices and the current state of financial conditions
- Open questions about market developments that complicate clear guidance

Those following central bank policy, markets, or macroeconomics will gain a compact view of the considerations behind the Fed's timing decisions and the trade-offs of its communication style, and can use it as a starting point for following upcoming Fed meetings.