Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to address an annual gathering of central bankers and economics bigwigs at a mountain resort in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Friday. Here's what you need to know: What exactly is the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium?

The annual economics symposium, which begins Thursday, brings together top monetary policy officials from around the world and always makes headlines in the financial press. There are at least three reasons the conference is worth paying attention to this year.

Almost every financial headline you read the next two days will mention Jackson Hole, the stunning Wyoming region that becomes the capital of the macroeconomic world every August. But this year's gathering of central bankers and economists could be more important than it's been in a very, very long time.