
Unearthed: The Future of the US Dollar ft. Kenneth Rogoff, Economist and Professor of Economics, Harvard University
UnearthedShow Notes
In this episode of Unearthed, hosts John Reade and Joseph Cavatoni, Senior Market Strategists at the World Gold Council, are joined by Ken Rogoff, Professor of Economics at Harvard University and former Chief Economist of the IMF. Together, they explore the shifting dynamics of the global monetary system, the arc of US dollar dominance, and the growing interest in potential alternative reserve currencies, from the euro and yuan to gold and digital currencies. Rogoff shares insights from his latest book Our Dollar, Your Problem, reflecting on the role of luck in the dollar’s ascent, the risks posed by US debt and political dysfunction, and what the next decade could hold for global reserves, inflation, and financial stability. Subscribe to Unearthed wherever you get your podcasts and visit Goldhub.com for more insights.
Additional Resources: Kenneth Rogoff Our Dollar, Your Problem
Notable Quotes:
“There's no question [Nixon’s] policies have shaken things up and had countries looking for other reserve assets in a hurry. And certainly gold has benefited enormously from that.” – Ken Rogoff
“I think luck played a big role in how high the dollar got and how widespread its use and how it became the lingua franca of trade and finance to such a large extent.” – Ken Rogoff
“If I look around the world at the other regions and centres [...] Europe's financial markets or capital markets are very fragmented. Japan's are obviously much smaller than they used to be. And China's look tremendously underdeveloped compared to the United States’. So there's going to have to be an awful lot of changes, I think, before we see the dollar's hegemony genuinely challenged.” – John Reade
“It's pretty unlikely [to return to the gold standard], but that doesn't mean gold can't play an important monetary role. People sometimes say, you know, Bitcoin is the new gold. And I would say gold is the new gold.” – Ken Rogoff About World Gold Council We are a membership organisation that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset, shaping the future of a responsible and accessible gold supply chain. Our team of experts builds understanding of the use case and possibilities of gold through trusted research, analysis, commentary, and insights. We drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the standards for a perpetual and sustainable gold market. You can follow the World Gold Council on Twitter at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn.
Terms & Conditions | World Gold Council
More from Unearthed
This episode was recorded on 15 October 2026. In this episode of Unearthed, hosts Joe Cavatoni and John Reade unpack why gold has been stuck in a holding pattern, with prices largely flat after a September pullback. With the U.S. midterm elections around the corner, they consider what the outcome could mean for gold, and why the answer may have less to do with party politics than investors might think. In the midst of conference season, they also turn to the topic dominating conversations on both sides of the Atlantic: central bank buying. After years of strong purchases and a sharply higher gold price, they ask what comes next for the sector, and what that could mean for the market in the years ahead. About World Gold Council We are a membership organisation that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset, shaping the future of a responsible and accessible gold supply chain. Our team of experts builds understanding of the use case and possibilities of gold through trusted research, analysis, commentary, and insights. We drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the standards for a perpetual and sustainable gold market. You can follow the World Gold Council on Twitter at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn. Terms & Conditions | World Gold Council
This episode was filmed on Wednesday 15th July and is part 2 of a 2 part series with Argor-Heraeus.
This episode was recorded on Thursday 3rd September 2026. In this episode of Unearthed, hosts Joe Cavatoni and John Reade break down a volatile August for gold, with prices reaching highs of roughly $4,700 before correcting following hawkish comments from Kevin Warsh. They discuss the rally and how it looks narrower and more speculator-driven than the broad-based buying seen in late 2025/early 2026. They also touch on muted safe-haven demand despite ongoing Middle East tensions, as well as the Dutch National Bank's move to relocate gold from Ottawa and the US to London. Looking ahead, John and Joe flag the catalysts they're watching into September, from the FOMC meeting and incoming US data to signs of a broader physical demand recovery across China, India, and Southeast Asia. You can follow the World Gold Council on Twitter at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn. Terms & Conditions | World Gold Council
This episode was filmed on Wednesday 15th July and is part 1 of a 2 part series with Argor-Heraeus. In this episode of Unearthed, hosts John Reade and Joe Cavatoni are joined by Dr. Robin Kolvenbach, CEO of Argor-Heraeus a major precious metals refining company located in Mendrisio, Switzerland. Together they unpack the drivers behind the refining industry, often the least understood link in the gold value chain. Episode one dives into the economics of the refining industry, why a rising gold price is a cost and a risk to refiners, and how metal lease rates shape the business. In the conversation they cover sourcing patterns reshaped by downstream demand for responsible supply, the scale and significance of bar and coin demand, physically segregated production lines and the tracing processes that allows a gold bar to be identified with a phone years after it leaves the refinery. Subscribe to Unearthed wherever you get your podcasts and visit Goldhub.com for more insights. About World Gold Council We are a membership organisation that champions the role gold plays as a strategic asset, shaping the future of a responsible and accessible gold supply chain. Our team of experts builds understanding of the use case and possibilities of gold through trusted research, analysis, commentary, and insights. We drive industry progress, shaping policy and setting the standards for a perpetual and sustainable gold market. You can follow the World Gold Council on Twitter at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn. Terms & Conditions | World Gold Council
This episode was recorded on 13 August 2026. In this episode of Unearthed, hosts Joe Cavatoni and John Reade unpack gold's push toward $4,400/oz, as softer US economic data clouds the outlook for further Fed rate hikes. They dig into a sharp pickup in ETF flows this month, continued central bank buying, and why the rally so far looks more tactical than broad-based — plus a surprisingly quiet seasonal demand out of China and India. Looking ahead, John and Joe flag the catalysts they're watching heading into the fall, from the Jackson Hole symposium to the U.S. November elections, and discuss what it would take to see the kind of retail enthusiasm that could take gold materially higher. You can follow the World Gold Council on Twitter at @goldcouncil and LinkedIn. Terms & Conditions | World Gold Council