While working for the Clinton administration Summers played a leading role in the American response to the 1994 economic crisis in Mexico, the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and the Russian financial crisis.
Di bawah pemeirntahan Clinton, Summers memainkan peran penting dalam merumuskan tanggapan Amerika Serikat terhadap krisis keuangan Meksiko 1991, krisis keuangan Asia 1997, dan krisis keuangan Rusia 1998.