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President Tom Barkin

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Tom Barkin

President and Chief Executive Officer

Tom Barkin is the president and chief executive officer of the Richmond Fed. He joined the Richmond Fed in January 2018.

In this role, he is responsible for the Bank’s monetary policy, banking supervision, and payment services as well as oversight of the Federal Reserve System’s information technology organization. Barkin served as a voting member in 2018 on the Federal Reserve’s chief monetary policy body, the Federal Open Market Committee.

Prior to joining the Richmond Fed, Barkin was a senior partner and chief financial officer at McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm. Barkin oversaw McKinsey’s offices in the southern United States and provided strategic counsel to a diverse portfolio of clients. Barkin also served on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 2009 to 2014 and was the board’s chairman from 2013 to 2014.

Barkin is a member of the Emory University Board of Trustees and the Greater Washington Partnership.

Barkin earned his bachelor’s, master’s and law degrees from Harvard University.

  • Speeches
    Nov. 12, 2024

    President Tom Barkin explores where the U.S. economy is today, how it got here and where it may be headed.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 23, 2024

    President Tom Barkin discusses what community colleges (and the Richmond Fed) are doing to strengthen the skilled trades talent pipeline.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 2, 2024

    President Tom Barkin shares his views on the economy and the recent rate cut, and then looks to what could come next.

    Tom Barkin

    June 28, 2024

    President Tom Barkin explores why it has been particularly challenging to predict the path of the economy over the last few years.

    Tom Barkin

    May 6, 2024

    President Tom Barkin reflects on recent data and shares his view on where the U.S. economy is headed.

    Tom Barkin

    April 4, 2024

    President Tom Barkin explores different ways to look at recent data, and then gives his own perspective.

    Tom Barkin

    Feb. 8, 2024

    Recent data have been remarkable. President Tom Barkin shares why he still sees reasons for caution.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 3, 2024

    President Tom Barkin reflects on 2023 and shares his outlook for the year ahead.

    Tom Barkin

    Nov. 15, 2023

    President Tom Barkin shares how communities in the Fifth District are working to move the needle on housing.

    Tom Barkin

    Nov. 9, 2023

    President Tom Barkin explores potential paths for the U.S. economy and their implications for monetary policy.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 17, 2023

    President Tom Barkin discusses what he is hearing on the ground from Fifth District contacts, and how it compares to recent data.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 28, 2023

    President Tom Barkin explores what’s happening in the labor market and how it could impact the path ahead.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 3, 2023

    President Tom Barkin discusses what’s driving the resilient U.S. economy and where it may be headed next.

    Tom Barkin

    June 16, 2023

    President Tom Barkin explores a plausible story for how inflation returns to target.

    Tom Barkin

    April 12, 2023

    President Tom Barkin shares how small towns in the Fifth District are putting their best foot forward to attract talent.

    Tom Barkin

    March 30, 2023

    President Tom Barkin discusses recent data and events and explores potential implications for monetary policy.

    Tom Barkin

    March 3, 2023

    President Tom Barkin discusses how he sees the economy, and the implications for inflation and for policy.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 12, 2023

    President Tom Barkin reflects on monetary policy and the economy in 2022 and shares his thoughts on what’s ahead.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 4, 2023

    President Tom Barkin shares how engagements with the Fifth District community inform our understanding of the economy.

    Tom Barkin

    Dec. 2, 2022

    President Tom Barkin explores whether labor will continue to be in short supply, and what that could mean for the U.S. economy.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 3, 2022

    President Barkin reflects on the relationship between technological innovation, the economy and monetary policy.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 30, 2022

    President Tom Barkin considers the forces behind today’s high inflation and offers his outlook for the economy.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 24, 2022

    President Tom Barkin explores some of the crucial segments lagging behind in the jobs recovery.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 3, 2022

    President Tom Barkin outlines how he expects inflation to come down.

    Tom Barkin

    June 21, 2022

    As the Fed works to contain inflation, many ask whether we are headed into a recession. President Barkin shares his perspective.

    Tom Barkin

    May 26, 2022

    President Tom Barkin discusses how firms can optimize the hybrid work environment.

    Tom Barkin

    May 10, 2022

    Inflation hasn’t been a hot topic for decades. Now that it’s back, it’s clear consumers and businesses dislike it. Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin discusses why and how the Fed is working to contain it.

    Tom Barkin

    April 12, 2022

    President Tom Barkin explores the conditions we may face once we navigate through the current inflation storm.

    Tom Barkin

    March 30, 2022

    President Tom Barkin discusses pools of funding available to small towns, the barriers these communities face in accessing funding, and explores potential solutions to these barriers.

    Tom Barkin

    March 18, 2022

    President Tom Barkin discusses how the Federal Reserve is working to contain inflation and reflects on the post-pandemic era economy.

    Tom Barkin

    March 3, 2022

    President Tom Barkin discusses how the labor shortage story differs across key segments of the economy.

    Tom Barkin

    March 1, 2022

    President Tom Barkin discusses critical investments to support rural economic development.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 13, 2022

    President Tom Barkin reflects on lessons learned last year and looks forward at what this year could look like for the U.S. economy.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 21, 2021

    President Tom Barkin discusses how we can connect more women with employment.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 19, 2021

    President Tom Barkin talks about who is on the sidelines of the labor market, what’s keeping them there, and how we can remove barriers in their way.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 14, 2021

    President Tom Barkin talks about the merits of outcome-based, rather than date-based, forward guidance.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 29, 2021

    President Tom Barkin shares innovative strategies and success stories from small towns around the Fifth District.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 10, 2021

    President Tom Barkin discusses forces that could keep quits elevated in the months to come and what that could mean for employers and the economy.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 2, 2021

    President Tom Barkin discusses how employers might change their hiring practices to bring more people into the labor market as the recovery continues.

    Tom Barkin

    July 13, 2021

    President Tom Barkin discusses the factors keeping workers out of the labor force—and how employers are responding.

    Tom Barkin

    July 6, 2021

    President Tom Barkin shares his perspective on recent economic data and the outlook for inflation.

    Tom Barkin

    June 30, 2021

    President Tom Barkin spoke to a joint meeting of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce about the challenges and opportunities facing Hispanic workers.

    Tom Barkin

    June 30, 2021

    El presidente Tom Barkin habló en una reunión conjunta de Cámaras Hispanas de Comercio sobre los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrentan los trabajadores hispanos.

    Tom Barkin

    June 29, 2021

    President Tom Barkin shares what he learned from conversations with educators and policymakers about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students.

    Tom Barkin

    June 22, 2021

    Flu incidence declined dramatically during the pandemic. If that were to continue, we could see large social and economic gains, writes President Tom Barkin in his latest essay.

    Tom Barkin

    June 2, 2021

    President Tom Barkin discusses the factors influencing wage growth in the wake of the pandemic.

    Tom Barkin

    May 26, 2021

    What explains diverging employment outcomes for college graduates and older workers? Read more in President Tom Barkin’s latest essay.

    Tom Barkin

    May 6, 2021

    The market will decide the future of remote work, says President Tom Barkin in his latest essay.This essay appears in the May issue of Econ Focus magazine.

    Tom Barkin

    April 16, 2021

    What does it take to deliver funding the “last mile” to the people who need it? Read more in President Tom Barkin’s latest essay.

    Tom Barkin

    March 23, 2021

    President Tom Barkin spoke about investments to help address long-term disparities exposed by COVID-19.

    Tom Barkin

    March 21, 2021

    President Tom Barkin spoke about the potential for COVID-19 to leave long-lasting scars on the economy—and how policy can help.

    Tom Barkin

    Feb. 24, 2021

    President Tom Barkin discusses the importance of training the next generation of infrastructure workers.

    Tom Barkin

    Feb. 1, 2021

    President Tom Barkin talks about the pandemic’s lasting influence on office life.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 14, 2021

    President Tom Barkin talks about the effects of COVID-19 on students and the Richmond Fed’s new District Dialogues series exploring educational disparities.

    Tom Barkin

    Nov. 10, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin discusses how community colleges can help workers affected by COVID-19 job loss.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 21, 2020

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin discusses the recent increase in personal savings and the implications for future spending.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 15, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin discussed the latest CFO Survey results and their implications for the economy at a webinar hosted by the Economic Club of New York.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 13, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin spoke about the importance of early childhood education and the health of the child care industry at the VECF/VA Chamber’s 7th Annual Executive Briefing on the Economics of Early Childhood.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 24, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin spoke about the outlook for inflation at a webinar hosted by the Money Marketeers of New York University.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 14, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin spoke about workforce barriers at a virtual summit hosted by West Virginia Women Moving Forward.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 24, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin discusses the loss of service-industry jobs and the effects on younger workers.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 3, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin discusses racial inequality in the Fifth District and how the Richmond Fed is working to make a positive difference.

    Tom Barkin

    June 22, 2020

    Read President Tom Barkin’s new essay on whether the COVID-19 pandemic could provide an opportunity for small towns to rewrite their endings.

    Tom Barkin

    June 15, 2020

    Read President Tom Barkin’s new essay on how supporting families and workers supports the economy’s long-term recovery.

    Tom Barkin

    May 21, 2020

    Read President Tom Barkin’s new essay about how people experience the COVID-19 pandemic differently.

    Tom Barkin

    May 4, 2020

    President Tom Barkin wrote about the potential longer-term impact of COVID-19.

    Tom Barkin

    April 8, 2020

    President Tom Barkin wrote about economic aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Tom Barkin

    March 27, 2020

    As the nation and the Fifth District of the Federal Reserve Bank face the impact of COVID-19, the Richmond Fed remains connected to our communities, delivering on our mission-critical responsibilities and continuing our important work.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 9, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin discusses economic conditions and the potential for a recession.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 3, 2020

    Richmond Fed president Tom Barkin discusses economic conditions and the potential for a recession.

    Tom Barkin

    Nov. 13, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke November 13, 2019 at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Forecast Luncheon in Greensboro, N.C.

    Tom Barkin

    Nov. 12, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin highlighted strategies for drawing people back into the workforce at the Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce Institute for Advanced Learning & Research.

    Tom Barkin

    Nov. 5, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke November 5, 2019 at the Greater Baltimore Committee Economic Outlook conference in Baltimore, Md.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 2, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin discussed economic differences between small towns and urban areas at the Investing in Rural America conference.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 26, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke September 26, 2019 to the Richmond chapter of the Risk Management Association.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 28, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin discussed how entrepreneurship can boost economic growth at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce 2019 Annual Meeting and Business Summit.

    Tom Barkin

    July 11, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke July 11, 2019, at the Global Interdependence Center’s Rocky Mountain Economic Summit.

    Tom Barkin

    June 3, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke to the Charlotte Economics Club on women's labor force participation, including trends, challenges and solutions.

    Tom Barkin

    May 16, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke May 16, 2019 at the Richmond Fed’s “Market Structure and the Macroeconomy” conference.

    Tom Barkin

    May 15, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke May 15, 2019, to the New York Association for Business Economics.

    Tom Barkin

    April 4, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke at the Virginia Association of Economists Annual Meeting on April 4, 2019, in Richmond.

    Tom Barkin

    March 5, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin highlighted themes for rural communities — education, jobs, de-isolation, and participation — at the Virginia Governor's Conference on Agricultural Trade.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 10, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke January 10, 2019, in Raleigh to the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce at its 2019 Economic Forecast event.

    Tom Barkin

    Jan. 4, 2019

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke January 4, 2019, at the Maryland Bankers Association’s First Friday Economic Outlook Forum in Baltimore.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 3, 2018

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke on the national economic outlook October 3, 2018, in Charleston, West Virginia.

    Tom Barkin

    Oct. 2, 2018

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin discussed geographic differences between rural and urban areas, workforce development, and mobility at the Reinventing Our Communities conference.

    Tom Barkin

    Sept. 28, 2018

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin delivered remarks to a Federal Reserve conference on minorities in banking.

    Tom Barkin

    Aug. 8, 2018

    Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin spoke to community and business leaders in Roanoke, Virginia, about strategies to boost economic growth.

    Tom Barkin

    May 7, 2018

    President Tom Barkin spoke at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. on May 7, 2018.

    Tom Barkin

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