Contributor(s): Dr Gertjan Vlieghe | Debt, demographics and the distribution of income can have significant and long-lasting effects on the economy. Historically, these 3 D’s have not been a major focus for monetary policy, but that is starting to change. Dr Gertjan Vlieghe joined the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England on 1 September 2015. Prior to his appointment he had been a partner and senior economist at Brevan Howard Asset Management, researching global macroeconomic trends and their interaction with asset prices. From 2005 to 2007 he was a bond strategist at Deutsche Bank. From 1998 to 2005 he held a number of posts at the Bank of England, including the post of Economic Assistant to Governor Mervyn King. Dr Vlieghe's published research has largely focused on the importance of money, balance sheets and asset prices in the economy. He holds a doctorate from the London School of Economics and Political Science. The Department of Economics at LSE (@LSEEcon) is one of the largest economics departments in the world. Its size ensures that all areas of economics are strongly represented in both research and teaching. The Centre For Macroeconomics (@CFMUK) brings together world-class experts to carry out pioneering research on the global economic crisis and to help design policies that alleviate it.