First of all, I have some good news to impart: the end of the world, announced for the latter part of December, proved not to be. Which is further demonstration of just how difficult longterm forecasting is. But now another disaster looms: a year with the number 13 in it.
I am delighted to be speaking to you today at the second of a pair of excellent conferences that the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco has organized on the tenth anniversary of the Asian financial crisis. Janet Yellen and her staff deserve kudos for focusing our attention on this important topic and I feel honored for the invitation to speak today.