Alan Greenspan

Alan Greenspan is an American economist and author who served as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve of the United States from 1987 to 2006. Appointed by Ronald Reagan and reappointed by four subsequent presidents, he guided U.S. monetary policy through a remarkable era of economic expansion, as well as significant financial events such as the 1987 stock market crash and the dot-com bubble.

Born in New York City, Greenspan studied economics at New York University, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Before entering public service, he worked as an economic consultant and served as the president of Townsend-Greenspan & Co., establishing himself as a respected voice in private-sector economic forecasting.

During his nearly two decades at the helm of the central bank, Greenspan became one of the most influential figures in global finance. Known for his opaque yet closely scrutinized congressional testimony, his tenure was widely praised for curbing inflation and fostering steady growth, though it also faced later debate regarding the precursors to the 2008 financial crisis.

Following his retirement from the Fed, Greenspan authored several bestselling books on economic history and philosophy, including The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World, offering profound insights into the mechanics of modern capitalism.