[![Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/cmfa-logo-337.jpg?itok=7I1XY-sE)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/cmfa-logo-337.jpg) 

# 34th Annual Monetary Conference

## CENTRAL BANKS AND FINANCIAL TURMOIL

**Thursday, November 17, 2016** 
9:00AM — 6:15PM

Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.

**[About the Conference](/events/34th-annual-monetary-conference) | [Conference Schedule](/events/34th-annual-monetary-conference/schedule) | [Registration](https://securessl.cato.org/events/monconf-2016.html)**

The Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives invites you to join us at CATO’S 34TH ANNUAL MONETARY CONFERENCE. Leading experts will address the risks inherent in the unconventional monetary policies of the world’s leading central banks and the steps that need to be taken to restore long-run economic growth.

The lack of any monetary rule to guide policy decisions has created great uncertainty and increased financial volatility. Zero or negative interest rates and quantitative easing have created severe distortions in asset markets by increasing risk taking and politicizing credit allocation while failing to bring about robust economic growth. Attend Cato’s Annual Monetary Conference to find out why.

Please join our distinguished speakers on **Thursday, November 17**, to discuss these and related issues.

### Featured Speakers

[![Athanasios Orphanides](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/orphanides-2016.jpeg?itok=hSUx4e_5)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/orphanides-2016.jpeg) 

**Athanasios Orphanides** 
Professor, MIT Sloan School of Management 
[![Thomas M. Hoenig](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/hoenig-2016.jpg?itok=OSDrUTfv)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/hoenig-2016.jpg) 

**Thomas M. Hoenig** 
Vice Chairman, FDIC [![Hon. Phil Gramm](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/gramm-2016.jpg?itok=JZuQ7Lf9)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/gramm-2016.jpg) 

**Hon. Phil Gramm** 
Former Chairman, Senate Banking Committee [![H. Robert Heller](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/heller-2016.jpg?itok=_vbygMcM)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/heller-2016.jpg) 

**H. Robert Heller** 
Former Member, Federal 
Reserve Board of Governors [![James Grant](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/grant-2014.jpg?itok=VybDB8_z)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/grant-2014.jpg) 

**James Grant** 
Editor, *Grant’s Interest Rate Observer* [![John Allison](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/allison-2014.jpg?itok=PPtUrimf)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/allison-2014.jpg) 

**John A. Allison** 
Former President and CEO, Cato Institute [![Steve Hanke](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/hanke-2016.jpg?itok=zHfbcQie)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/hanke-2016.jpg) 

**Steve Hanke** 
Johns Hopkins University 
[![Mark Spitznagel](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/optimized/public/images/monconf/spitznagel-2016.jpg?itok=gd3QFNU0)](/sites/cato.org/files/images/monconf/spitznagel-2016.jpg) 

**Mark Spitznagel** 
President & CIO 
Universa Investments, LP 

**[About the Conference](/events/34th-annual-monetary-conference) | [Conference Schedule](/events/34th-annual-monetary-conference/schedule) | [Registration](https://securessl.cato.org/events/monconf-2016.html)**