Event - G20 Studies Centre: The future of international economic governance and the G20
On 20-21 May 2015 the G20 Studies Centre at the Lowy Institute for International Policy will host a conference on international economic governance. Leading international experts on the G20 will present papers on priority global economic issues, with a particular focus on long-term thinking about the future of the international ‘rules of the game’ and how the G20 contributes to those rules. Following the conference, the Lowy Institute will publish these papers as an anthology on the future of international economic governance and the G20.
The draft conference program is included below.
Day 1: Morning
Session 1. Setting the scene: global developments and international governance
The opening session will outline the state of international governance in 2015. An overview of the G20 history will trace its development into a premier forum for managing the global economy and the implications of recent geopolitical developments. There will be reflections on Australia’s G20 presidency and on China’s future presidency in 2016.
Moderator: Philip Lowe. Deputy Governor. Reserve Bank of Australia.
Papers: Paola Subacchi. Chatham House. UK. Mike Callaghan. Lowy Institute. Australia. He Fan. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. China.
In the absence of Paola and Fan, there will be a panel discussion involving:
Matthew Goodman. Center for Strategic & International Studies. USA. Stephen Pickford. Chatham House. UK. Barry Carin. Centre for International Governance Innovation. Canada.
Session 2. Strengthening the global system
Global growth and recovery from the financial crisis continues to be slower than expected. This session will explore some of the setbacks in the global economy and how the G20 can tackle them. It will include reflections on the Framework for Strong, Sustainable, and Balanced Growth, and the G20’s commitment to jobs and growth embodied in the Brisbane Action Plan. There will also be discussion of how the G20 can advance trade liberalisation in light of developments in multilateral trade and an increasing number of regional trade agreements. The session will conclude with a discussion of the G20’s role in global development.
Moderator: David Gruen. Australian G20 Sherpa. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Papers: Alok Sheel. Economic Advisory Council. India. Peter Draper. South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa. Robin Davies. Crawford School. Australian National University. Australia.
Day 1: Afternoon
Session 3. A more resilient global economy
This session will discuss the G20’s efforts to ensure that the global economy is more resilient to economic shocks, with a focus on financial stability, international tax, and institutional reform. The global financial structure will be evaluated, alongside the development of new global financial institutions. Reforms to the G20 will be considered, as well as the need for long-awaited reforms of the IMF. Challenges for the G20/OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan will also be evaluated.
Moderator: HK Holdaway. Australian G20 Finance Deputy. Australian Treasury.
Papers: Fariborz Moshirian. Institute of Global Finance. University of New South Wales. Australia. Stephen Pickford. Chatham House. UK. Miranda Stewart. Crawford School. Australian National University. Australia.
Session 4. Will the international community respond to key challenges?
Energy and climate change have been hotly contested on the G20 agenda. The 2015 Leaders’ Summit will be two weeks before the UNFCCC COP21 meeting in December 2015. This session will delve into questions of how to transform the international energy architecture and what the G20 could achieve with regards to climate change. Michelle Grattan will conclude the session with a broader conversation about G20 communications.
Moderator: Leon Berkelmans. Director of the International Economy program and G20 Studies Centre. Lowy Institute. Australia.
Papers: Christian Downie. University of New South Wales. Australia. Barry Carin. Centre for International Governance Innovation. Canada. Michelle Grattan. University of Canberra and The Conversation. Australia.
Day 2: Morning
Session 5. Where to from here for international governance?
International groupings rise and decline and the relevancy of the G20 depends on its dialogue with different actors in the wider international community. The session will consider the regional groupings of BRICS, the G7, and MIKTA (Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia), and the implications for the overall cohesiveness of the G20. This session will discuss strategies for the G20 to reach out to different groups and assess the G20’s official engagement with interested parts of the broader community including business, civil society, labour, think tanks, women, and youth groups. A key part of discussions will be how the G20 can formalise its institutions without losing its flexibility.
Moderator: Robert Milliner. 2014 Australian B20 Sherpa.
Papers: Susan Harris Rimmer. Australian National University. Australia. Matthew Goodman. Center for Strategic & International Studies. USA. John Kirton. University of Toronto. Canada.
Session 6. Summing Up
Final reflections and comments from presenters.
Moderator: Mike Callaghan. Lowy Institute. Australia.
