Jörg Bibow is currently Professor of Economics at Skidmore College in New York. After studying at the University of Hamburg and the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, he received his doctorate from the University of Cambridge (1996) and his habilitation from the University of Hamburg (2004). Bibow has also taught and conducted research at the University of Cambridge, the University of Hamburg and Franklin University Switzerland. Bibow is the author of over one hundred books, articles and other published research papers. He is an associate fellow at the Levy Economics Institute at Bard College in New York and has done research and consulting work for the United Nations (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva), including projects in Asia, Africa and Latin America. 

Bibow is a monetary macroeconomist with proven expertise and experience in central banking and financial systems, international finance, trade and development, the economics of European integration, and the history of economic theory. While Bibow’s original research was in the area of monetary theory, he has since become more of an applied economist, an economist with a global perspective and a keen awareness of, and interest in, the links between economics and other disciplines.

Bibow’s fellowship at HIAS will be dedicated to exploring the evolving world of money and payments. The payment system is essential to the functioning of a market economy. The more complex the economy becomes, including a large global network, and the more diverse and sophisticated people’s lifestyles, consumption habits and business practices become, the greater the demands on the payment system to provide fast, convenient and secure transaction facilities. The world of money and payments is changing rapidly. Technological innovation, competition, regulation, and central bank policies are the main drivers. The daily lives of citizens are being affected both noticeably and imperceptibly. Noticeably, because new conveniences and opportunities arise. Often imperceptibly as new risks accompany transformative innovations, both for users and for policy makers operating in this rapidly changing environment. The aim of the project is to provide a thorough assessment of the transformation that is occurring in global money and payment systems today. 

Jörg Bibow’s tandem partner is Arne Heise, Professor of Economics, in particular Finance and Public Governance, at the University of Hamburg.

His HIAS fellowship is provided by the Joachim Herz Foundation.