While we would certainly have preferred meeting you all in person at the OeNB premises in the usual setting, with a reception and informal networking after the lecture, I have to admit that the new format also has its merits. Pol Antràs would probably not have agreed to fly over to Europe for a lecture on Thanksgiving Day.
Our economy faced severe challenges during that period--the terrorist attacks of September 11, a recession and the threat of deflation, corporate governance scandals, and economic issues posed by the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Suffice it to say, John earned his stripes as the leader of the "Global Financial Warriors."