A Primer on the Federal Reserve
Hoyt Bleakley
Thu Jan 25, 10:30am-12:00pm, E51-372
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
The hows and whys of Federal Reserve policy, including a tour of recent policy debates (from the perspective of an MIT and Federal Reserve "alumnus").
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Emily Gallagher, E52-262, x3-8884, emily@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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An MIT Solution to the Social Security Crisis
Franco Modigliani
Wed Jan 17, 03-04:30pm, E51-372
Single session event
Prereq: None
A proposed reform of the current Public Pension System, based on replacing the pay-as-you-go financing with a funded system that insures the indefinite preservation of the current defined benefits without raising contributions, and instead gradually reducing them to a third of what they would be under pay-as-you-go.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Thomas Lissey, E53-420, x3-6853, thom@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Are U.S. Executives Overpaid?
Bengt Holmstrom
Tue Jan 16, 01-02:30pm, E51-395
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
In the '90s the best paid CEOs in the US earned each year over 100 million dollars from lucractive stock option programs. Is this a sign of executive greed, or does the increased use of stock options improve corporate performance? The lecture will place this question in the larger context of the very significant corporate restructuring that has taken place in the US over the past two decades, arguing that stock option programs have played a very central role in this transition. We will also discuss the challenges facing stock option programs in a slow-growing stock market and suggest ways to make them better.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Deborah Garrity, E52-274, x2-1618, dgarrity@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Classroom Experiments in Game Theory
Christopher Snyder
Wed Jan 31, 02:30-05:00pm, E51-361
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 30-Jan-2001
Limited to 25 participants.
Single session event
Students will participate in simple games designed to illustrate formal concepts from game theory. Actual nominal cash payments will be paid based on performance. Session will conclude with a discussion of the results and the lessons we learn from them about the theory.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Ana Medeiros, E52-352, x3-3807, amede@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Economic Development, Geography or Institutions?
Daron Acemoglu
Tue Jan 30, 01-02:30pm, E51-372
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
This talk will argue that the history of European Colonization has a first-order effect on comparative development. Europeans adopted very different colonization policies in different colonies, with different associated institutions. The choice of colonization strategy was, at least in part, determined by whether Europeans could settle in the colony. In places where Europeans faced high mortality rates, they could not settle, and they were more likely to set up worse (extractive) institutions. These early institutions have persisted to the present. The talk will document evidence supporting these hypotheses. It will also show that, once these links are taken into account, countries in Africa or those closer to the equator do not have lower incomes.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Lauren Fahey, E52-380, x3-4669, lola@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Estate Planning: The Basics of Planning for Today and Tomorrow
Paul J. Gunning
Tue Jan 23, 11am-12:00pm, Wong Auditorium E-51, NOTE CHANGE OF ROOM!
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
This workshop is designed for employees who want an overview of estate planning issues and considerations. Highlights include:
1. A detailed review of estate planning techniques
2. A discussion of common estate planning mistakes and ways to avoid them
3. Steps to help make sure your estate plan is in order
Contact: Paul J. Gunning, E19-215, x8-8872, paul.gunning@fmr.com
Sponsor: Human Resources
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How To Manage Your MIT 401(k) Plan Online
Paul J. Gunning, Fidelity Investments
Wed Jan 10, 10-11:00am, MIT Training Lab W89
Wed Jan 10, 12-01:00pm, MIT Training Lab W89
Thu Jan 25, 11am-12:00pm, MIT Training Lab W89
Thu Jan 25, 01-02:00pm, MIT Training Lab W89
Enrollment limited: advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 09-Jan-2001
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session
Prereq: Must have MIT 401(k) Plan and valid "pin" number to access
This interactive workshop is designed to walk you through the information and tools available to help manage your MIT 401(k)account. Seating is limited for these sessions. PLEASE CALL 1-800-642-7131 to reserve your space. Highlights include:
1. Logging on to your own account through Fidelity NetBenefits
2. Review how to use the planning tools available on the site
3. Learn where additional and ongoing information can be accessed
Contact: Paul J. Gunning,, E19-215, x8-8872, paul.gunning@fmr.com
Sponsor: Human Resources
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MIT Investment Challenge
Jason Skalski , Nathaniel Houle
Mon Jan 15, Wed Jan 17, Mon Jan 22, Wed Jan 24, Fri Jan 26, 07-09:00pm, 10-250, (3:30-5pm on Friday)
No limit but advance sign up required (see contact below)
Signup by: 15-Jan-2001
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Compete for $4000 in CASH and prizes in the sequel to the very first university-wide investment competition! Six of the nation's top investing experts will give lessons on making money with Portfolios, Stocks, Mutual Funds, Options, Fixed Income, IPO's, and Daytrading. Then enter your own portfolio into the 3 month long investment competition to be featured on www.marketwise.com. The top investors will share $4000 in CASH and prizes!
Speakers include:
-Paul Antico (Manager, Fidelity Small Cap Stock Fund)
-David Nasser (President/CEO, MarketWise Trading)
-Chris Farrell (President, Farrell Asset Management)
-Christopher Durbin (Chief Investment Strategist, JP Morgan Investment Management)
-Dennis Rourke (Co-Head of Software Investment Banking, Banc of American Securites)
-David Darst (Managing Director, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.)
Presented by the MIT Investors Association and sponsored by:
-The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
-JP Morgan Investment Management
-CBS Marketwatch
-MarketWise Trading
-Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
-Fidelity
-Credit Suisse First Boston
Participants must register online.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/investors/www
Contact: Jason Skalski, jskalski@mit.edu
Sponsor: MIT Investors Association
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Qualified Retirement Plan Assets and Your Estate Plan
Paul J. Gunning, Fidelity Investments
Tue Jan 23, 12:30-01:30pm, Wong Auditorium E51, NOTE CHANGE OF ROOM!!
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
This workshop will review the important issues to consider when your retirement plan balances make up a significant part of your estate. Attendees should have a basic understanding of estate planning techniques.
Highlights include:
1. A review of the income and estate tax issues associated with qualified retirement plans
2. A detailed discussion of estate planning techniques using your retirement plan balances
3. Where additional and ongoing information can be accessed
Contact: Paul J. Gunning,, E19-215, x8-8872, paul.gunning@fmr.com
Sponsor: Human Resources
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Rethinking International Labor Standards
Michael Piore
Fri Jan 12, 01-02:30pm, E51-372
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Deborah Garrity, E52-274, x2-1618, dgarrity@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Taxation and the Mutual Fund Industry
Daniel Bergstresser
Thu Jan 11, 10:30am-12:00pm, E51-376
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Personal taxes can consume a substantial portion of a mutual fund shareholder's return. In the late 1990s, taxes have cost a typical fund investor over two percent of his invested savings each year. At the aggregate level, these tax payments have contributed as much as $15 billion in revenue to the federal government. This IAP seminar presents recent economic analysis of the relationship between fund taxation and investor behavior. The focus is on recent research designed to ascertain the sensitivity of investors to the prospective tax burdens of individual mutual funds.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Daniel Bergstresser, E52-354, x8-0741, dberg@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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The Competitive Edge of New Industrial Regions
Pat Burnett, Former Assoc. Prof. of Economic Geography, Northwestern Univ
Thu Feb 1, 01-02:30pm, E51-057
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Silicon Valley, Route 128, British Sports Car Alley, Kumi S. Korea. Companies are increasingly mobile nationally and internationally, yet "sticky places" form. Why? We investigate them in Western and non-Western countries.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Ruth Levitsky, E52-380, x3-3399, levitsky@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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The Election and the Prospect for Social Security Reform
Peter Diamond
Fri Jan 19, 01-02:30pm, E51-361
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
This talk will describe the current status of social security and the reform proposals that have received the most attention.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Emily Gallagher, E52-262, x3-8884, emily@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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The Role of Wireless Technology in the New Economy
Jerry Hausman
Mon Jan 8, 01-02:30pm, E25-111
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Professor Hausman will discuss recent developments in wireless technology. In particular, he will analyze the potential combination of wireless technology and the internet.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/economics/www
Contact: Emily Gallagher, E52-262, x3-8884, emily@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Understanding Your MIT Retirement Plans
Diane Gipson
Tue Jan 30, 12-01:00pm, Twenty Chimneys
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session
This workshop is designed for employees who want a review of the MIT Retirement Plans, how they work and what things they need to consider for each plan.
Highlights include:
1. An in-depth review of the features and benefits of the MIT Basic Plan and the MIT 401(k) Plan
2. A discussion of the tools,information and services available to help you with retirement planning
Contact: Diane Gipson, E19-215, x3-0114, Gipson@mit.edu
Sponsor: Human Resources
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Weather Derivatives and Catastrophe Bonds
Veronique Bugnion
Tue Jan 23, 10am-12:00pm, 54-915
Tue Jan 23, 02-04:00pm, 54-915
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
What are these exotic financial instruments which can cover anything from losses due to major hurricanes or earthquakes to the risk of experiencing a cold summer or a warm winter? Who sells them, who buys them, and why? What role does science play in shaping these new financial markets? Each session will include an introduction from a scientific expert as well as a presentation from a business professional involved in these new markets.
Contact: Veronique Bugnion, 54-1715, x3-3715, vero@mit.edu
Sponsor: Earth, Atmos & Planetary Sci
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Your MIT 401(k) Plan Investment Options
Paul J. Gunning, Fidelity Investments
Thu Feb 1, 12-01:00pm, Twenty Chimneys
This workshop is designed for any participant who wants an overview of the MIT Supplemental 401(k) Plan investment options. Highlights include:
1. A review of the investment options in the MIT Supplemental 401(k) Plan, including the Bond Oriented Balanced Fund, the Diversified Stock Fund and the eight Fidelity Asset Class Options
2. A detailed discussion on the fund's investment objectives, risk characteristics,investment style,current holdings and historical performance
3. Where to find additional and ongoing fund information
Contact: Phil Lima, E19-215, x8-8872, phill@MIT.EDU
Sponsor: Human Resources
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