While emerging countries produced about 85 percent of global economic growth since then, China, India and Brazil are slowing after they lifted interest rates to curb inflation following at least $870 billion of fiscal stimulus during the financial crisis.
"Over time, as the emerging market countries become wealthier and technologically more sophisticated, they will gradually lose the advantages of starting from behind," Bernanke said.
Both emerging markets and advanced economies will have to "do their part" to reduce global imbalances, Bernanke said.