Britain's Return to the Gold Standard in 1925 Revisited
24 June 2025, Bank of England, London
On 28 April 1925, Winston Churchill announced the United Kingdom’s return to the gold standard. The restoration of the Pound Sterling’s gold convertibility at its pre-war parity followed a period of profound economic change in the UK: four years of war, the imposition of capital controls, a surge in the national debt, and a sustained period of exchange rate volatility. Few policy decisions in history have provoked as much commentary and controversy. To mark the centenary of this momentous event, we invite scholars from a wide range of disciplines to submit papers reflecting on the 1925 return to gold, its historical context, and its implications for current debates in monetary and financial policy.
This conference seeks to revisit the UK’s return to the gold standard, examining its causes, consequences, and the broader lessons it offers for understanding monetary and exchange rate policies. The conference will take place in person at the Bank of England on24 June 2025 and is sponsored by the Bank of England, the Centre for Endowment Asset Management at Cambridge Judge Business School, the Financial History Group at the LSE and the Centre for Economic Policy Research.
Organising committee: Olivier Accominotti (LSE and CEPR), Pamfili Antipa (LSE), Oliver Bush (Bank of England), David Chambers (Cambridge Judge Business School, LSE and CEPR), Ryland Thomas (Bank of England).
There are likely to be limited spaces that we can offer to non-presenters. If you would like to be considered, please complete this form.
