Roles and Functions of the Federal Reserve
Course | Registration opens 12/7/2026 8:00 AM EDT
Ryo Tashiro, an economist from the Federal Reserve, will give an overview of the Federal Reserve System and its role in the economy. We will further explore monetary policy – what it is, its objectives, and how it is conducted. The lecture will include discussions on the recent developments in the economy.
Ryotaro Tashiro
As an outreach economist and advisor, Ryotaro Tashiro speaks to various groups about the economic outlook and the Federal Reserve’s functions. He avoids economic jargon so those without economic backgrounds can participate. Tashiro views these public interactions as two-way streets. He sees the importance of informing the public about what is happening with the economy and at the Fed, and also hearing what individuals are experiencing economically. Many of the research topics Tashiro pursued were inspired by conversations with the public and included his two main areas of focus: labor economics and demographics. Among his many contributions to the Bank, Tashiro is notably responsible for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia Economic Outlook Survey. Prior to joining the Bank in June 2016, he was a Bloomberg business analyst, where he researched equity data quality issues. Tashiro has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Kenyon College.