Peter Conti-Brown
@petercontibrown.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Financial Regulation, Wharton; Nonresident Fellow, Brookings. Banking, central banking, financial history. Petercontibrown.substack.com
There is a debate underway about whether supervisors should criticize bank managerial competence.
History supports that very long tradition. See more ar open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
History supports that very long tradition. See more ar open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
Supervising Banker Competence: A View from History
There is a debate about whether bank supervisors should evaluate bankers’ managerial competence, versus focus on more "quantitative" measures. History is on the side of qualitative supervision
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:30 PM
There is a debate underway about whether supervisors should criticize bank managerial competence.
History supports that very long tradition. See more ar open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
History supports that very long tradition. See more ar open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
It's time for the monthly AMA -- send me your questions, it's my favorite post of the month.
November 10, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It's time for the monthly AMA -- send me your questions, it's my favorite post of the month.
In this week's links, I discuss the divided FOMC, a new paper on when businesses sue their regulators, thoughts on bank robberies, a movie review movie, & reflections on why my bpm spikes so hard at elevation. Link below.
November 10, 2025 at 9:39 PM
In this week's links, I discuss the divided FOMC, a new paper on when businesses sue their regulators, thoughts on bank robberies, a movie review movie, & reflections on why my bpm spikes so hard at elevation. Link below.
In today’s personal post I write about mentorship and the ways I have sometimes mismanaged it. Take a look, link in comments.
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
In today’s personal post I write about mentorship and the ways I have sometimes mismanaged it. Take a look, link in comments.
Last week the Tenth Circuit issued its long-awaited decision in Custodia Bank vs the Federal Reserve.
Custodia lost in a 2-1 decision.
I think the Fed — through its behavior throughout the process — has lost far more.
Today’s deep dive looks at why, link below.
Custodia lost in a 2-1 decision.
I think the Fed — through its behavior throughout the process — has lost far more.
Today’s deep dive looks at why, link below.
November 5, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Last week the Tenth Circuit issued its long-awaited decision in Custodia Bank vs the Federal Reserve.
Custodia lost in a 2-1 decision.
I think the Fed — through its behavior throughout the process — has lost far more.
Today’s deep dive looks at why, link below.
Custodia lost in a 2-1 decision.
I think the Fed — through its behavior throughout the process — has lost far more.
Today’s deep dive looks at why, link below.
What is happening in bank supervision at the Fed? And what should we make of the split dissents at the FOMC? Plus a mini review of Andrew Ross Sorkin’s marvelous new book, some thoughts on reversible bike stems, and (though you were not expecting this) a link to an essay on Burning Man. Link below!
November 3, 2025 at 2:07 PM
What is happening in bank supervision at the Fed? And what should we make of the split dissents at the FOMC? Plus a mini review of Andrew Ross Sorkin’s marvelous new book, some thoughts on reversible bike stems, and (though you were not expecting this) a link to an essay on Burning Man. Link below!
Earlier this month I wrote about my experiences with anti-Mormonism. What I didn’t expect was one of the people I mentioned, fully anonymized, would see himself in it and reach out to me to discuss. What followed was one of the most remarkable exchanges I have ever had. Link in the comments below.
October 24, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Earlier this month I wrote about my experiences with anti-Mormonism. What I didn’t expect was one of the people I mentioned, fully anonymized, would see himself in it and reach out to me to discuss. What followed was one of the most remarkable exchanges I have ever had. Link in the comments below.
How should we think about the Fed chair sweepstakes? What does it mean when candidates say weird things on the path to nomination? How do you pronounce Bessent? All this and more in today’s newsletter:
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
The Fed in the Trump Cinematic Universe
Links on the Fed Chair search led by Bessent (however you prounce that), debanking and antifa (whatever that is), the Strava vs Garmin lawsuit (that just went away), AML in UK, and Ride of the Week
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM
How should we think about the Fed chair sweepstakes? What does it mean when candidates say weird things on the path to nomination? How do you pronounce Bessent? All this and more in today’s newsletter:
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
Publication day! @seanvanatta.bsky.social and I are proud of this book and hope you’ll love it. Let us know what you think!
Today is the official pub. date for @petercontibrown.bsky.social and my book, Private Finance, Public Power: A History of Bank Supervision in America.
We did not anticipate that it would drop at a moment when so much in supervision is up for grabs.
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
We did not anticipate that it would drop at a moment when so much in supervision is up for grabs.
press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Private Finance, Public Power
The strange and contested evolution of the management of banking risk
press.princeton.edu
June 25, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Publication day! @seanvanatta.bsky.social and I are proud of this book and hope you’ll love it. Let us know what you think!
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
In Private Finance, Public Power, Peter Conti-Brown & Sean Vanatta offer a new history of finance & public policy in the United States by examining the idiosyncratic way the nation manages financial risk across the public-private divide.
Out June 24. Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Out June 24. Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
June 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
In Private Finance, Public Power, Peter Conti-Brown & Sean Vanatta offer a new history of finance & public policy in the United States by examining the idiosyncratic way the nation manages financial risk across the public-private divide.
Out June 24. Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Out June 24. Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
Super fun show this week with @seanvanatta.bsky.social and @petercontibrown.bsky.social on their new history of bank supervision in the United States. We also cover the recent SCOTUS case on POTUS removing Fed governors, powerlifting, and more! www.mercatus.org/macro-musing... (1/n)
Peter Conti-Brown and Sean Vanatta on the History of Bank Supervision in America
Peter Conti-Brown is a historian and legal scholar of the Federal Reserve System, and an associate professor at the
www.mercatus.org
June 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Super fun show this week with @seanvanatta.bsky.social and @petercontibrown.bsky.social on their new history of bank supervision in the United States. We also cover the recent SCOTUS case on POTUS removing Fed governors, powerlifting, and more! www.mercatus.org/macro-musing... (1/n)
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
What do powerlifting and economic hysteresis have in common? My latest newsletter explores this connection, building on @petercontibrown.bsky.social Conti-Brown's powerlifting journey and @lucafornaro.bsky.social's hysteresis research. macroeconomicpolicynexus.substack.com/p/let-it-fai...
Powerlifting through Hysteresis
On strength lost, strength regained, and the scars that shape an economy.
macroeconomicpolicynexus.substack.com
June 10, 2025 at 7:08 PM
What do powerlifting and economic hysteresis have in common? My latest newsletter explores this connection, building on @petercontibrown.bsky.social Conti-Brown's powerlifting journey and @lucafornaro.bsky.social's hysteresis research. macroeconomicpolicynexus.substack.com/p/let-it-fai...
This is really extraordinary. A close friend from South Korea told me over dinner last week that in his mind Korea has only two enemies: China and Japan.
This is starting to change.
This is starting to change.
China, Japan, and South Korea agree to “closely cooperate” in response to U.S. tariffs
March 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
This is really extraordinary. A close friend from South Korea told me over dinner last week that in his mind Korea has only two enemies: China and Japan.
This is starting to change.
This is starting to change.
Some various thoughts on Fed independence and agency independence, stablecoin legislation, an upcoming conference, and my first real half marathon.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/tuesday-li...
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/tuesday-li...
Tuesday links
On Fed independence and Franklin Roosevelt, stablecoin legislation, an upcoming conference, and half marathons
petercontibrown.substack.com
March 25, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Some various thoughts on Fed independence and agency independence, stablecoin legislation, an upcoming conference, and my first real half marathon.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/tuesday-li...
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/tuesday-li...
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
First review of Private Finance, Public Power by @stevenkelly49.bsky.social ! Check it out and preorder now!
In American Banker, I review (spoiler alert: positively) @petercontibrown.bsky.social and @seanvanatta.bsky.social's forthcoming book on the history of bank supervision in America:
Bank supervision's cyclical history
In their new book, Peter Conti-Brown and Sean Vanatta chart the U.S.'s bank supervisory pendulum from the Constitution through the 1970s.
www.americanbanker.com
March 2, 2025 at 8:03 PM
First review of Private Finance, Public Power by @stevenkelly49.bsky.social ! Check it out and preorder now!
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
In American Banker, I review (spoiler alert: positively) @petercontibrown.bsky.social and @seanvanatta.bsky.social's forthcoming book on the history of bank supervision in America:
Bank supervision's cyclical history
In their new book, Peter Conti-Brown and Sean Vanatta chart the U.S.'s bank supervisory pendulum from the Constitution through the 1970s.
www.americanbanker.com
March 2, 2025 at 6:55 PM
In American Banker, I review (spoiler alert: positively) @petercontibrown.bsky.social and @seanvanatta.bsky.social's forthcoming book on the history of bank supervision in America:
Tuesday's links on debanking, Trump & the Fed, Musk & the Fed, DEI, and Bill Gates (and I guess Bill Clinton)
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
Tuesday Links - February 25, 2025
On debanking, Trump & the Fed, Musk & the Fed, DEI, and Bill Gates (and I guess Bill Clinton)
open.substack.com
February 25, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Tuesday's links on debanking, Trump & the Fed, Musk & the Fed, DEI, and Bill Gates (and I guess Bill Clinton)
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
“As the saying goes, if you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other,” Peter Conti-Brown, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said. “The Fed is a single stick.” www.semafor.com/article/02/2... @petercontibrown.bsky.social
February 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
“As the saying goes, if you pick up one end of the stick, you pick up the other,” Peter Conti-Brown, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said. “The Fed is a single stick.” www.semafor.com/article/02/2... @petercontibrown.bsky.social
Personal post below.
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
Fun Dip
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Personal post below.
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
Personal post below.
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
Fun Dip
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com
February 21, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Personal post below.
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
My son’s Valentine’s candy triggered a painful memory that ambushed me this week. That memory, his reaction, and when past is neither prologue nor even really past.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/fun-dip
Monday links where I talk about debanking, Rodney Hood's appointment, Fed politics, Marxist errors, why we should tune out a bit more, and why I cannot get enough of the Kelce-Swift-Mahomes-Reid frowny-face memes.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
Monday links - Feb 10
On debanking, Rodney Hood's appointment, Fed politics, Marxist errors, and why we should tune out a bit more.
petercontibrown.substack.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Monday links where I talk about debanking, Rodney Hood's appointment, Fed politics, Marxist errors, why we should tune out a bit more, and why I cannot get enough of the Kelce-Swift-Mahomes-Reid frowny-face memes.
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
Some thoughts on our political moment, kakistocracy, and Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ozymandias (also the neuroplasticity of teenage brains).
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
Ozymandias and the ends of empires?
Why Elon Musk's form of kakistocratic chaos will not be the end of American empire
open.substack.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Some thoughts on our political moment, kakistocracy, and Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ozymandias (also the neuroplasticity of teenage brains).
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
open.substack.com/pub/petercon...
Reposted by Peter Conti-Brown
A “crypto Glass-Steagal” is worth considering in the US. Like if your coinbase, you can facilitate trading in the regulatory blessed crypto (ETH, BTC) or memecoins but not both
January 21, 2025 at 9:31 AM
A “crypto Glass-Steagal” is worth considering in the US. Like if your coinbase, you can facilitate trading in the regulatory blessed crypto (ETH, BTC) or memecoins but not both
Today's post on what I am reading, including on Fed and climate, Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, memecoins, Musk's knowledge consumption function, and Macro Musings. Take a look!
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
Monday Links - January 20, 2025
On Bitcoin, Memecoins, Fed and Climate Change, Elon Musk, and Macro Musings
petercontibrown.substack.com
January 20, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Today's post on what I am reading, including on Fed and climate, Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, memecoins, Musk's knowledge consumption function, and Macro Musings. Take a look!
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...
petercontibrown.substack.com/p/monday-lin...