An In-Depth Look at the Economy and the Markets
Roland Jacobson, Vice President, Fidelity Investments
Tue Jan 25, 12-01:00pm, Mezzanine, W20
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
This session will focus on the US and global economies, the overall financial markets, and the effect on your investment portfolio.
Contact: Paul Gunning, Fidelity Investments, 258-8872, paul.gunning@fmr.com
Sponsor: Human Resources
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Economic Origins of the Fractal Behavior of the Stock Market
Xavier Gabaix
Thu Jan 27, 04-05:00pm, E51-376
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Economic data display a series of robust fractal relationships that seem to hold across different times and economic systems. For instance, the distribution of firms, cities, mutual funds and even internet sites seem to follow "Zipf's law." Zipf's law says that the size of firms (resp. city, mutual fund etc) of the n-th largest city is proportional to 1/n. Similarly robust patterns have been found in the scaling of stock market fluctuations, trading activity, firm and GDP growth dynamics. This talk will survey the evidence and proposed explanations for those regularities. They typically have a "statistical physics" flavor and give us a better insight in what causes fractal behavior in economic life.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Global Imbalances
Olivier Blanchard, Ricardo Caballero
Thu Jan 20, 02-03:00pm, E51-335
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
THIS SESSION WAS RESCHEDULED FROM 1/11/05
A look at the economic state of the world, from growth in China, to the current account deficits of the US.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Income Distribution in Macroeconomics
Reto Foellmi Visiting Scholar MIT & Professor University of Zurich
Mon Jan 24, Tue Jan 25, Wed Jan 26, 01-02:30pm, E51-361
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Repeating event. Participants welcome at any session
The lectures give a short overview on recent contributions to the analysis of income distribution in macroeconomic models. The focus is on two main questions.
First, how does the distribution of income and wealth evolve in a market economy? Under which conditions does the gap between rich and poor people tend to increase or decrease over time?
Second, is a more equal distribution of income and wealth beneficial or harmful for accumulation and growth? We outline the role of capital market imperfections which may hinder investment in human or physical capital. Then, we turn to product market imperfections and study the impact of inequality on the market structure which affects the demand for innovative products.
Web: http://www.iew.unizh.ch/home/rfoellmi/iap
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Is The US Corporate Governance System in Disrepair? A View from the Board
Bengt Holmstrom, Paul Joskow, Lucian Bebchuk (Harvard Law)
Tue Jan 11, 10:30am-12:00pm, E51-376
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Is the US corporate governance system in fundamental disrepair? Have executives lost their business ethics? Have boards been complacent or irresponsible? In this session, hear from two economists with extensive experience from corporate boards who will provide a fresh perspective on these questions. They will offer a more nuanced account of the problems of corporate governance and how to proceed with reforms including those aimed at executive compensation and shareholder empowerment.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Is There a Bubble in the US Housing Market?
William Wheaton
Wed Jan 26, 03:30-05:00pm, E51-149
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Professor Wheaton will examine the history of the US housing market and its cyclic as well as secular movements. He will examine the role of various economic forces and institutional changes that propel the market and discuss the likelihood that currently prices are at unsustainably high levels. The class will use statistical analysis.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Learning about Aging from Past Populations
Dora Costa
Tue Jan 25, 11am-12:00pm, E51-376
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
US and European populations are living longer and longer and becoming healthier and healthier. Why? What implications does this have for the economy?
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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MIT Retirement Plans Overview
Ellen Cushman, and Kimberly Forness, MIT Retirement Counselors
Tue Jan 11, 12-01:00pm, Mezzanine, W20
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Highlights include:
An overview of the MIT Basic Pension Plan and the MIT Supplemental 401(k) Plan; A review of the features and benefits of each Plan; A discussion of the tools, information, and resources available to help with the challenges of retirement planning.
Contact: Ellen Cushman, ecushman@MIT.EDU
Sponsor: Human Resources
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Saving For Retirement: What Every Woman Needs To Know
Michelle Randolph, Senior Retirement Counselor, Fidelity Investments
Tue Jan 18, 12-01:00pm, Mezzanine, W20
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Highlights include:
Discussing the specific challenges for women who are saving for retirement; Studying the risks women face such as rising life expectancies, women out of the workforce, and women's compensation; Discover ways to set up an action plan to help meet your retirement goals; Finding the resources available to take control of your financial future.
Contact: Paul Gunning, Fidelity Investments, 258-8872, paul.gunning@fmr.com
Sponsor: Human Resources
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So You Want to Be a Trader?: Practical Applications of OR in the Financial Industry
Dr. Andrew Lo
Tue Jan 25, 12-01:00pm, E40-106
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Recent breakthroughs in financial economics have led to a virtual explosion of quantitative research in academics and on Wall Street. What used to be considered esoteric mathematical minutiae is now part of the standard lexicon of traders, arbitrageurs, and portfolio managers. What is financial engineering? Can investors really beat the market using quantitative strategies? What were the “breakthroughs” in financial technology over the past thirty years? What are the current intellectual challenges and career opportunities in the financial sector most relevant to scientists and engineers? Professor Lo will address these issues, and provide an overview of current market conditions.
Contact: Katy Kaminski, Randal Hickman, Theo Weber, katykam@mit.edu, hickman@mit.edu, theo_w@mit.edu
Sponsor: Operations Research Center
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Social Security After The Election
Peter Diamond
Wed Jan 26, 10:30-11:30am, E51-315
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prospects for social security reform after the election
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Some Good Macroeconomic Topics
Olivier Blanchard, and Other Macroeconomics Professors
Tue Jan 25, 04:15-05:45pm, E51-372
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Discussion of various Macroeconomic topics, titles TBA.
Contact: T. Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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Strategies for Estate Planning
Bill Collins, Vice President, Fidelity Investments
Wed Jan 5, 12-01:30pm, Bush Room, 10-105
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Prereq: None
Highlights include:
The importance of estate planning; Overview of basic estate planning tools; Changes to estate tax laws and the impact on your estate plan; Strategies for estate planning that may help reduce tax liability; A road map to help you accomplish your estate planning goals.
Contact: Paul Gunning, Fidelity Investments, 258-8872, paul.gunning@fmr.com
Sponsor: Human Resources
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Student Group Roundtable - Finances
Laurie Ward, Jen Au-Yeung
Tue Jan 18, 02-03:00pm, 4-253
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants welcome at individual sessions (series)
Perplexed by budgets? Confused about funding sources? Confounded by reconciliations? Join other student group leaders to talk about best practices, share ideas on resources or come for the tips on good business practices. This roundtable discussion will be faciliated by a Student Activities staff member.
Contact: Laurie Ward, W20-549, x3-3680, laurie@mit.edu
Sponsor: Division of Student Life
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Student Loan Consolidation
Jocelyn Heywood, Eleanor Walcott
Thu Jan 13, 20, 12-01:00pm, 4-231
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Participants requested to attend all sessions (non-series)
Prereq: none
Students have an opportunity to lock in the current low interest rate on loans. You are able to consolidate all your federal loans into one, securing the current rate and easing future repayment hassles. How do you do this? To find out, the loan counselors in Student Financial Services will be offering a general information session. We will discuss what loan consolidation is, why you would or would not want to consolidate, and what programs are available to you.
Contact: Jocelyn Heywood, 11-120, x8-5663, heywood@mit.edu
Sponsor: Student Financial Services
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The Power of Tax-Deferred Retirement Savings
James Poterba
Fri Jan 14, 12-01:00pm, E51-376
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Retirement savers who take advantage of tax-deferred savings opportunities, such as 401(k) Plans and Individual Retirement Accounts, have the opportunity to earn higher after-tax returns than investors who do not save in tax-deferred form. This seminar will explain the relationship between investment time horizons, rates of return, and the amount of wealth that can be accumulated for retirement.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
Cosponsor: Human Resources
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What Can You Do With a Course 14 Degree?
Jonathan Gruber
Tue Jan 18, 01:30-03:00pm, E51-390
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
A panel of outside experts will discuss job options for economics majors.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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What Works in Development? Evaluating the Impact of Anti-Poverty Programs
Esther Duflo
Thu Jan 27, 01-04:00pm, E51-376
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
We discuss the work of MIT's Poverty Action Lab--a center devoted to providing rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of different approaches to poverty reduction. We discuss the surprising lack of evidence and the flaws in many evaluations of social programs . We willl present ways to measure more accurately the impact of these programs. In particular, with example drawn from all over the world, we discuss the role of randomized evaluations estimate the effectiveness of a program by comparing outcomes of randomly assigned treatment and comparison groups.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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World Oil: Why Are Prices So High?
Paul Joskow, Denny Ellerman, Morris Adelman
Wed Jan 12, 10:30am-12:00pm, E51-372
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
World oil prices increased dramtically during the past year and have a history of substantial price volatility. US imports of oil continue to grow and now account for over 50% of domestic consumption. Should we expect that the high oil prices will persist over the long run? Is the world running out of oil? Are energy security issues being addressed properly? Come to hear a group of MIT energy experts discuss these issues.
Contact: Theresa Benevento, E52-274, x3-8883, theresa@mit.edu
Sponsor: Economics
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