Ragnar Nurkse, Bretton Woods and the international economic order

Launch of the Bruegel-published book "Ragnar Nurkse and the Making of the Bretton Woods Paradigm"

Time and location: 30 September 2026 13:00-14:15 Bruegel, Rue de la Charité 33, 4th floor, 1210 Brussels REGISTER TO JOIN ON SITE OR ONLINE
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Format: Public, On the record, Livestreamed
Contact: Matilda Sevón

Speakers

Jacques de Larosière

Former Governor, Banque de France

Former Managing Director, International Monetary Fund

Former President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Ilaria Pasotti

Secretary General, Fondazione Raffaele Mattioli per la storia del pensiero economico

Maive Rute

Deputy Director-General, European Commission, DG GROW

Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell

Former Executive Board Member, European Central Bank

Agenda

Check-in and lunch

12:30-13:00

Agenda

Discussion

13:00-14:15

Chair: Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Bruegel Director
Jacques de Larosière, Former Governor, Banque de France; Former Managing Director, International Monetary Fund; Former President, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Ivo Maes, Bruegel Non-resident Fellow
Ilaria Pasotti, Secretary General, Fondazione Raffaele Mattioli per la storia del pensiero economico
Maive Rute, Deputy Director-General, European Commission, DG GROW
Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell, Former Executive Board Member, European Central Bank

Agenda

Q&A

14:15-14:15

Ask your questions on Sli.do #brettonwoods

This event will launch and discuss "Ragnar Nurkse and the Making of the Bretton Woods Paradigm", an intellectual biography of the little-known Estonian economist Ragnar Nurkse who developed the authoritative account of the Bretton Woods paradigm. Drawing on extensive archival research, the book traces Nurkse’s intellectual journey and examines how his study became the theoretical framework behind the 1944 Bretton Woods agreement.

The event will use the book as a starting point for a broader discussion on multilateralism today. As the international economic order faces renewed geopolitical tensions and uncertainty, what can we learn from the thinking that shaped Bretton Woods? The discussion will bring together leading experts to connect the history and ideas behind Bretton Woods with the challenges facing the international economic order today.

Theme: Macroeconomic policy and governance Global economy and trade
Keyword: multilateralism global governance monetary policy
Language: English