Our central banks are in crisis—here’s why it matters | Birgit Niessner | TEDxLinz

Trust in central banks is not a given. It depends on citizens’ understanding of what central banks do—and on central banks proving that they can act independently. From a beautiful handbag to today’s very public attacks on the U.S. central bank, Birgit Niessner illustrates how fragile that independence truly is. And once trust breaks, rebuilding credibility becomes extraordinarily difficult. This, in turn, weakens the fight against inflation. Drawing on her experience inside a central bank, she also opens new perspectives on the nature of money itself. Cash or electronic payments, public or private money—there are many options. But how consciously do we make these choices? This TEDx talk is a dramatic call to close the knowledge gap around central banks. Only when we see and understand the central bank can we protect this vital pillar of economic stability. Birgit Niessner combines a passion for economics and global development with decades of experience in Austria’s financial sector. A former Chief Economist at the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), she now contributes her expertise as a Research Associate at WIFO and wiiw and as Managing Director of the Austrian Society for Bank Research. She also acts as President of CARE Austria, advancing humanitarian and development efforts worldwide. https://www.linkedin.com/in/birgit-niessner-07a6b784/ This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx