In this lecture I document the proliferation of gross international
asset and liability positions and discuss some consequences for
individual countries’ external adjustment processes and for global
financial stability. In light of the rapid growth of gross global
financial flows and the serious risks associated with them, one
might wonder about the continuing relevance of the net financial
flow measured by the current account balance. I argue that global
current account imbalances remain an essential target for policy
scrutiny, for financial as well as macroeconomic reasons. Nonetheless,
it is critically important for policymakers to monitor as
well the rapidly evolving structure of global gross assets and
liabilities.