Financial institutions wield considerable influence over modern democracies, but their evolving power has often escaped thorough scrutiny. On Tuesday, 10 June 2025, Bayes Business School in London will host a free public lecture by Anat R. Admati, a leading scholar and advocate on financial regulation, accountability and governance. Admati’s talk will trace the ways in which distorted incentives within finance, alongside inadequate oversight, have allowed key market players to operate with impunity. She will argue that these mechanisms have worked to undermine the rule of law, erode public trust and sow disillusionment with the very foundations of democratic governance.
Drawing on political economy and analysis of recent global crises, Admati will dissect the subtle and overt failings that allow influential individuals and institutions in the financial sector to weaken accountability structures. While the consequences of financial malfeasance have been widely felt, particularly following major banking collapses and economic shocks, Admati contends that the root causes remain deeply entrenched in overlooked corners of policy and regulation. The lecture will highlight how failures in governance have led to a dangerous feedback loop—where public mistrust limits democratic engagement, and weak engagement in turn emboldens powerful interests in finance. Attendees can expect a rigorous discussion on the intersection between business practices, law and societal expectations, anchored by Admati’s celebrated research and outspoken advocacy.
Anat R. Admati is the George G. C. Parker Professor of Finance and Economics at Stanford University´s Graduate School of Business. She is widely recognized for her work on banking reform, notably through her co-authored book ´The Bankers’ New Clothes: What’s Wrong with Banking and What to Do about It,´ recently released in an expanded 2024 edition. Her expertise has been acknowledged by outlets such as Time Magazine and Foreign Policy, listing her among the world’s most influential thinkers. At Stanford, she also directs programs on the interface between corporations and society, and serves on advisory bodies including the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee. Her academic training includes undergraduate studies at the Hebrew University, a PhD from Yale University, and an honorary degree from the University of Zurich.
Free and open to alumni and the public, the event emphasizes the enduring need to scrutinize links between finance, public accountability and democratic integrity. Admati’s address aims not only to diagnose the failings in financial governance but also to inspire practical engagement among scholars and practitioners determined to uphold the rule of law and restore public trust.
