The annual Jackson Hole summit, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas, gathers central bankers and economists to discuss pressing economic issues. This year, the focus is on labor market changes amid demographic shifts, productivity, and monetary policy. Tensions rise as U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticizes Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, blaming him for adverse effects on the housing market. Economists worry about the implications of Trump’s attacks on the independence of the Federal Reserve, which are set against the backdrop of rising national debt and interest payments.