Richard Holden Keynote Speaker

  • Holds an AM and PhD in Economics from Harvard University.
  • Serves as the economics professor at UNSW Business School in Australia.
  • Author of several economics books including "Money in the Twenty-First Century: Cheap, Mobile, and Digital" published in 2024.

Richard Holden's Biography

Richard Holden, a renowned economist, author, and professor who is celebrated for his influential work in economic policy and the political economy. He serves as a professor at UNSW Business School and is the director of the Manos Innovation Lab in Education. As President of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, Richard is a prominent figure in the academic community, known for his profound impact on economic research and policy.

He holds an AM and a PhD in Economics from Harvard University where he delved into contract theory, organizational economics, law and economics, and political economy.

During Holden’s early career, he served on the faculty at the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He went on to join the UNSW Business School in Australia, where he currently works as an economics professor. He has been a visiting professor at the MIT Department of Economics and the MIT Sloan School of Management, as well as at the University of Chicago and Columbia Law Schools. His dynamic teaching style and ability to distill complex economic concepts into accessible knowledge have made him a favorite among students and colleagues alike.

Additionally, Richard is a regular contributor to various media outlets like The New York Times and The Financial Times, providing expert analysis on current economic and political issues. His work has been published in leading economics journals including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, American Economic Review and the Journal of Political Economy. He has also contributed to top general interest science journals like Nature and other journals on political science and law. Richard currently serves as a fellow of the Econometric Society, the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and the Royal Society of New South Wales.

Holden is the author of Money in the Twenty-First Century: Cheap, Mobile, and Digital, published in 2024, which looks at how the three modern forces have redefined what “money” is, who controls it, and offers a glimpse into the future of finance.  He has also co-written several influential books on economics. As an accomplished author, his writing not only reflects his deep understanding of economic theory but also his commitment to applying these theories to real-world problems.

Richard Holden is a distinguished economist and professor, recognized for his contributions to economic policy and political economy. His work in market design and public policy has had a significant impact on both academia and real-world applications.

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Richard Holden's Speaking Topics

  • The Future of Liberalism

Discover how “democratic liberalism” can respond to the pressing challenges of our time (including climate change, market power, and inequality) without giving up on the power of free markets and individual choice.

  • Central Bank Digital Currencies

Explore Richard's insights on how the central bank digital currencies can harness the power of Web3 and smart contracts, defend against the prospect of a global private digital currency, and do so without the “trust” costs and environmental impact of cryptocurrencies.

  • A Cashless Society

With recent advances in payment-system technology, a completely cashless society in advanced economies can be a reality. Learn more about how this would reduce costs on businesses and consumers, capture hundreds of billions of dollars in lost tax revenue from the underground economy, and dramatically reduce elicit activities lubricated by cash.

  • The Australian Model

Discover Australia's unique economic model. It's not as laissez-faire as the United States, nor as interventionist as Europe. Understand how Australia has the best universal healthcare system in the world without socialized medicine, the highest minimum wage while keeping unemployment around 4 percent, and comparatively low levels of inequality without killing innovation.

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Videos of Richard Holden

Richard Holden | How to redistribute capital, mitigating inequality without killing productivity
Richard Holden | How to redistribute capital, mitigating inequality without killing productivity
Keynote: Intelligent Contracts Broadening the Boundaries of Corporate Collaboration
Keynote: Intelligent Contracts Broadening the Boundaries of Corporate Collaboration
IN FULL: Professor Richard Holden's Address to the National Press Club
IN FULL: Professor Richard Holden's Address to the National Press Club
   0:19 / 11:15   Holden on the Greek Debt Crisis
0:19 / 11:15 Holden on the Greek Debt Crisis

Articles, Media & Podcasts

Richard Holden

Books by Richard Holden

Money in the Twenty-First Century: Cheap, Mobile, and Digital (2024)
Principles of Economics (2023)
Principles of Macroeconomics (2023)
Principles of Microeconomics (2022)
From Free to Fair Markets: Liberalism after Covid-19 (2022)
Can Blockchain Solve the Hold-up Problem in Contracts? (2021)

Comments & Testimonials

"A layperson's guide to the way in which digital currencies may evolve over the coming decades and what this means for government-issued currency. This is the issue that will confront policy makers. Richard Holden integrates a currently quite disparate and technical literature to translate that research into what it all is likely to mean for the real world."
Joshua Gans Professor of Strategic Management, University of Toronto
"Holden has an uncanny knack for writing about complex topics in a lucid, understandable way. He uncovers the reasons behind the recent spate of banking crises and explains where banking is likely to be headed in the era of digitalization. An edifying read for lay and expert alike.
Bengt Holmstrom Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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