Richard Koo is a noted thought leader in economics and the creator of the balance sheet recession theory. Richard has been the chief economist at Nomura Research Institute since 1997. Over the years, Koo has advised several Japanese prime ministers, and numerous Western governments and central banks on economic and... Read more
Richard Koo is a noted thought leader in economics and the creator of the balance sheet recession theory. Richard has been the chief economist at Nomura Research Institute since 1997. Over the years, Koo has advised several Japanese prime ministers, and numerous Western governments and central banks on economic and banking problems.
Richard first joined Nomura in 1984 as its first expatriate researcher. With his position, he got to watch Japan’s recession from an excellent vantage point and has since written four highly acclaimed books on balance sheet recession: The Other Half of Macroeconomics and the Fate of Globalization (Wiley, 2018), The Escape from Balance Sheet Recession and the QE Trap: A Hazardous Road for the World Economy (Wiley, 2014), The Holy Grail of Macroeconomics: Lessons from Japan’s Great Recession (Wiley, 2009) and Balance Sheet Recession: Japan’s Struggle with Uncharted Economics and its Global Implications (Wiley, 2003)
Koo’s pioneering work on balance sheet recession made an invaluable contribution to economics. It triggered a focus on debt in global policy debate as he discusses the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policy changes as an economy undergoes different stages of development.
Prior to Nomura, Richard Koo was an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and a Doctoral Fellow of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In addition to being one of the first non-Japanese to participate in the development of Japan’s five-year economic plan, he taught at Waseda University in Tokyo as a visiting professor and was Senior Advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
Lessons and insights shared by Koo can help navigate economic and political predicaments, challenge stagnation and worsening inequality, and overcome inflation. Richard Koo was the number one economist in the Nikkei Financial Ranking for three consecutive years (1995, 1996 and 1997). He also took first place in the Nikkei Newsletter on Bond and Money from 1998 to 2000. In 2001, he was awarded the Abramson Award by the National Association for Business Economics.
You can book Richard Koo through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Richard's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Richard Koo's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Richard tailored to your event.
Richard Koo speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Richard to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Richard Koo for events worldwide, subject to Richard's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Richard Koo is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Richard can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Richard Koo on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Richard can offer.
Richard Koo delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Richard Koo's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Richard's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Richard Koo can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Richard's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Richard Koo is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Richard Koo, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Richard's current availability for your dates.