MIT: Independent Activities Period: IAP

IAP 2019 Activities by Category - Economics and Finance

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"Firms and Development: Experimental Evidence"

David Atkin, Associate Professor of Economics, Serene Ho, Senior Policy Associate, J-PAL Global

Add to Calendar Feb/01 Fri 10:30AM-12:00PM E51-372

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Firms, large and small, provide employment and income for the majority of households in the world. Thus, firm-related policies can potentially have large impacts on poverty. But should policymakers intervene to try and foster firm growth? And if so, how should they intervene? This talk reviews the nascent literature that uses randomized control trials to try to provide answers to this question.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


"Will It Work Here? A Framework for Applying Evidence From Impact Evaluations in New Contexts

Spencer Crawford, Policy Associate, J-PAL North America

Add to Calendar Jan/11 Fri 11:00AM-12:30PM E51-063

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Amidst a growing body of rigorous research, we have increasing opportunities to draw from research to generate evidence-based policies. But what should we do when we learn that a program works? Should the program be replicated? Will it work in other places? How do we know? This session will share a systematic framework for thinking about generalizability – whether a program that works in one context will also work in another. We will also discuss several examples of how the generalizability framework has been applied in different international contexts.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


20th Anniversary of the Euro: The past and the future

Daron Acemoglu, Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics, George Alogoskoufis, Professor of Economics, Olivier Blanchard, Professor and Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute, Jeffrey Frankel, James W. Harpel Professor of Capital Formation and Growth

Add to Calendar Jan/17 Thu 11:30AM-01:00PM E51-345

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Panel hosted by the Department of Economics:

-Daron Acemoglu (MIT) 
-George Alogoskoufis (Tufts University; formerly Minister of Finance, Greece) 
-Olivier Blanchard (Peterson Institute and MIT; formerly Chief Economist, IMF)
-Jeffrey Frankel (Harvard Kennedy School; formerly Chief Economist, Council of Economic Advisers) 

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Accessing and Using Administrative Data for Impact Evaluations

Mary-Alice Doyle, Research Manager, J-PAL North America

Add to Calendar Jan/24 Thu 03:00PM-04:30PM E51-390

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Administrative data are information collected, used, and stored primarily for administrative (i.e., operational), rather than research, purposes. These data can be an excellent source of information for use in research and impact evaluation. This session is for those using, or planning to use, administrative data for research. We will discuss why researchers use administrative data (providing examples from randomized evaluations in economics) and provide practical guidance on how to obtain and use nonpublic administrative data for research. We will discuss the challenges - both practical and conceptual - in accessing and working with administrative data.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Basics of Obtaining a Patent

Jack Turner, Associate Director, Jonathan Hromi, Intellectual Property Officer

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 10:00AM-11:30AM E25-111

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 150 participants

The issuance of a patent is often seen as an inventor's most notable achievement, but do you know what it takes to apply for and be issued a patent? This session will review the criteria required and the process by which inventions are assessed by the USPTO to determine if creative works are patentable. 

Jack Turner, Associate Director, and Jonathan Hromi, Intellectual Property Officer, both of the MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO), will discuss the basics of the patent application process, the history and context surrounding patents as a means of protecting commercialization rights, as well as share about the policy and practice of MIT's patenting activities. They'll share insights into how the TLO engages in this process in  support of entrepreneurial engagement at MIT.

This session is part of the "Intellectual Property Speaker Series" co-sponsored by the Technology Licensing Office and MIT Libraries. Lunch will be provided to attendees of the Intellectual Property Speaker Series events. 

Please register  for the seminar and lunch here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/basics-of-obtaining-a-patent-iap-2019-intellectual-property-series-tickets-53673048533?aff=1141901

FREE SWAG!

We will also be giving away some branded MIT Libraries and Technology Licensing Office swag to participants who attend any 6 sessions from this series, so please check out our other sessions! http://mit_tlo.eventbrite.com

 

Sponsor(s): Technology Licensing Office, Libraries
Contact: Karen Baird, NE18-501, 617 324-2386, KSHANER@MIT.EDU


Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Distributed Ledgers: Innovation and Regulation

Robert Townsend, Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 01:00PM-02:30PM E51-372

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) that has come with Bitcoin and Blockchain has the potential to transform economic organization and financial structure. The lecture examines this potential by analyzing the underlying economics. DLT is broken down into familiar but important component parts: ledgers, e-messages, and contracts. Each component is discussed, linked to a DLT innovation, then evaluated in the context of illustrative, actual example economies, with a focus on general equilibrium impact and welfare gains. Contract theory is used to derive optimal arrangements, constrained only by obstacles to trade, featuring how DLT could help implement these. Mechanism design and monetary theory are used to study tokens on ledgers and their value. In turn, implications for better, deeper financial infrastructure and for improved payments systems are discussed. Blueprints are given for the (re)design of financial systems, for micro- and macro-prudential regulation that can make use of distributed ledger technology, and for an optimal token policy for a digital reserve bank.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Distributed Ledgers: Innovation and Regulation

Robert Townsend, Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 01:00PM-02:30PM E51-372

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) that has come with Bitcoin and Blockchain has the potential to transform economic organization and financial structure. The lecture examines this potential by analyzing the underlying economics. DLT is broken down into familiar but important component parts: ledgers, e-messages, and contracts. Each component is discussed, linked to a DLT innovation, then evaluated in the context of illustrative, actual example economies, with a focus on general equilibrium impact and welfare gains. Contract theory is used to derive optimal arrangements, constrained only by obstacles to trade, featuring how DLT could help implement these. Mechanism design and monetary theory are used to study tokens on ledgers and their value. In turn, implications for better, deeper financial infrastructure and for improved payments systems are discussed. Blueprints are given for the (re)design of financial systems, for micro- and macro-prudential regulation that can make use of distributed ledger technology, and for an optimal token policy for a digital reserve bank.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Business data: Finding & mapping company information

Jennie Murack, Nick Albaugh

Add to Calendar Jan/28 Mon 11:00AM-12:00PM 14N-132

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Limited to 30 participants

Did you ever wonder where grocery stores are located in a city? Or perhaps biotech firms? We will learn how to query several business directories to create a list of businesses and then learn how to find detailed information for specific companies.

Bring your laptop or use a computer in the lab.

Register here: https://libcal.mit.edu/event/4848510

Sponsor(s): Libraries
Contact: Jennie Murack, 7-238, 617 258-6680, MURACK@MIT.EDU


Career Exploration for Economists: Tech, An Insider's View

Nils Wernerfelt, MIT Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 01:00PM-02:00PM E51-372

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

This talk will be composed of two parts. In the first, I'll give an overview of tech companies that are hiring PhD economists today, the kinds of roles that economists do at such companies, the skills needed, and resources to help find these positions. In the second, I'll talk about my own experiences working as an economist in tech, including what the day-to-day is like, what I see as the pros/cons, advice I wish I'd known, etc. Please also come with any questions you might have about this general space, and I'd be more than happy to give my thoughts. 

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Career Explorations for Economists: Business Schools

Claudia Steinwender, Assistant Professor of Applied Economics, Tavneet Suri, Associate Professor of Applied Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/11 Fri 10:00AM-11:00AM E51-315

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

We will discuss (1) differences across business schools, including how faculty are evaluated in terms of research versus teaching, as well as (2) differences within business schools, including how economists working on different topics might fit in different faculty groups.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Career Explorations for Economists: From Policy to Academia to Private Sector

Catherine Mann, Global Chief Economist at Citi

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 12:00PM-01:00PM E52-324

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Catherine L. Mann (PhD 1984) will chat with students about alternative careers open to economists through the lens of her career as an international economist. She has worked in policy-making institutions (Federal Reserve Board, Assistant Director of the International Finance Division; the Chief Economist at the OECD in Paris); think tanks (Peterson Institute for International Economics); academia (Brandeis Univ, Rosenberg Prof of Global Finance); and her current position in the private sector as Global Chief Economist at Citi. She’ll talk about how to maintain a research agenda, how various positions open up new vistas for research topics, as well as the advantages of broad networks.  

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


COI @ MIT: The People, Policy and Process Behind Financial Conflicts of Interest at MIT

Rupinder Grewal, Conflict of Interest Officer, Nicole Levidow, Compliance Administrator, Dave McCarthy, Technology Licensing Officer

Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 10:00AM-11:30AM E25-111

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/17
Limited to 150 participants

MIT’s sponsored research exceeds $600M annually, funded by federal agencies, private foundations, and industry. MIT also has a global reputation for its startup, innovation, and entrepreneurial culture with 25+ startups launched annually in collaboration with the MIT Technology Licensing Office (TLO).

Rupinder Grewal and Nicole Levidow (COI office) along with Dave McCarthy (MIT TLO) will provide insight into topics including history and evolution of the financial conflict of interest in research regulations, who they impact, what information is collected, and how it is managed.

Other questions will be discussed to include:

This session is part of the "Intellectual Property Speaker Series" co-sponsored with the Technology Licensing Office. Lunch will be provided to attendees of the Intellectual Property Speaker Series events. Please register  for the seminar and lunch here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coi-mit-the-people-policy-and-process-iap-2019-ip-speaker-series-tickets-53624021893?aff=1181901

FREE SWAG!

We will also be giving away some branded MIT Libraries and Technology Licensing Office swag to participants who attend any 6 sessions from this series, so please check out our other sessions! http://mit_tlo.eventbrite.com

Sponsor(s): Technology Licensing Office, Libraries
Contact: Karen Baird, NE18-501, 617 324-2386, KSHANER@MIT.EDU


Conducting Randomized Controlled Trials in Development Economics: A Practical Introduction for New Researchers

Anja Sautmann, Director of Research, Education, and Training, J-PAL

Add to Calendar Feb/01 Fri 01:00PM-02:30PM E52-164

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

This session is designed for graduate students or advanced undergraduates in economics and other social sciences who are considering conducting their own RCT and are seeking a practical introduction. The session will cover how to effectively plan and execute your RCT research, with a focus on managing risks such as null results, funding or timeline constraints, and other obstacles.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Credit 101

Latonya Smith-Winston, Community Relations & Development Officer

Add to Calendar Jan/10 Thu 12:00PM-01:00PM 32-144

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

Credit cards are a great tool - as long as you use them wisely! In this seminar, we'll discuss why you should care about credit and tips for using credit wisely...for life! We'll talk about the Credit CARD Act of 2009 and what it means for you and how to build a solid credit history. 

The goal of this seminar is to make sure you understand how to use credit to your advantage. Remember, it's a great tool...as long as you use it wisely!

Register here.

Sponsor(s): MIT Federal Credit Union
Contact: Meghan Melvin, NE48, 617 715-4703, MBROWNCU@MIT.EDU


Crypto Trading Workshop

Asa Oines

Add to Calendar Jan/08 Tue 02:00PM-04:00PM 26-210
Add to Calendar Jan/10 Thu 02:00PM-04:00PM 26-210
Add to Calendar Jan/15 Tue 02:00PM-04:00PM 26-210
Add to Calendar Jan/17 Thu 02:00PM-04:00PM 26-210
Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 02:00PM-04:00PM 26-210
Add to Calendar Jan/31 Thu 02:00PM-04:00PM 26-210

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions
Prereq: None

Join a workshop on smart contracts, stable coins, and crypto trading where you’ll build an arbitrage strategy and compete against your peers for cash prizes worth $10,000. 

Course content:

  1. Intro to workshop and arbitrage trading
  2. Ethereum and smart contracts 2.0
  3. Token pricing, arbitrage, and stable coins
  4. The state and challenges of crypto arbitrage (frontrunning, factoring in volatility, etc)
  5. Challenge winners announced  

 

Register here: https://celoiap.splashthat.com

Sponsor(s): Bitcoin Club
Contact: Claire Belmont, +1 650 665 9907, claire@celo.org


Data Visualization

Clare Sachsse, Training Associate, J-PAL North America

Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 03:00PM-04:30PM E51-390

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

This session is for those who are new to data visualization, but who work with data regularly and are interested in making visualization clearer and more data-dense. This session will guide participants through how to choose what visual form would best present their data to their audience and then how to make specific design choices within tables, graphs, or maps.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Genetown: Biotech's History in Kendall Square

Robin Wolfe Scheffler, Assistant Professor in STS

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 01:30PM-03:30PM Bld 7 under dome, be prepared to spend time outside

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/08
Limited to 15 participants
Prereq: None

Biotechnology and science are often thought of as abstract ideas, but where they take place has long lasting consequences for how innovation and invention occur. In the last forty years Kendall Square has become the epicenter of Boston's booming biotechnology sector. However, in 1978 conditions looked far less auspicious-- Kendall Square was in industrial decline and the development of biotechnology faced strenuous local opposition. The rise of the biotechnology industry required not only new ideas but new ways of financing companies, recruiting scientists, and developing real estate. By moving through Kendall Square and MIT, we will view some of the sites where biotech history was made, explore the ingredients of Kendall Square's success, and whether it can continue. Since this will be an outdoor tour in January, we will consider these themes over two hot chocolate/coffee breaks at local cafes.

Contact: Carolyn C. Carlson, E51-163d, 617.253.4085, carlsonc@mit.edu


Health Care Reform - Where Are We Now?

Jonathan Gruber, Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/09 Wed 11:00AM-12:00PM E51-315

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The ACA appears here to stay. Where does that leave us moving forward in terms of reforming the health care system? What are the best ways to build on the ACA and to tackle the even more daunting problem of rising health care costs? And what are the political prospects for such solutions?

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Home Buying 101 with MIT FCU

Phil Vita, Real Estate Agent

Add to Calendar Jan/08 Tue 12:00PM-01:30PM 56-114

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

Whether it's your first time or you're in the market again, learn what's involved in buying a house at this free, informative session.

Come meet the experts from MIT Federal Credit Union, Vita Realty Group & Members Mortgage Company to talk about:

- How to find the right property for you (for today and the future) 

- Trends in today's housing market

- Financing options available for first time homebuyer

- And much more

Register here.

Sponsor(s): MIT Federal Credit Union
Contact: Meghan Melvin, NE48, 617 715-4703, MBROWNCU@MIT.EDU


How Strong is the Evidence for the Gains From Trade?

Dave Donaldson, Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 04:00PM-05:00PM E52-164

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

This talk will describe some recent empirical studies that seek to quantify some of the costs and benefits of openness to trade.  

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


How to crash the Banking System, and other lessons from Economic Simulation.

Jacky Mallett, Assistant Professor, Reykjavik University, Iceland;, Stevie Steiner, CEO Aerogel Technologies;

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/07
Limited to 25 participants
Attendance: Participants should plan to attend all sessions
Prereq: Basic Java Programming or permission of instructor

Threadneedle is an agent based economic simulation framework developed at the University of Reykjavik, based directly on the double entry book keeping transactions used  by the banking system. As such it provides a unique tool for examining the influence of the  economy on the banking system, and vice versa.

In this workshop participants will use simple agent based economies, with markets, taxation, and other hallmarks of the modern financial system to explore the behaviour of the economy as  a  complex distributed networked system. We will explore systemic explanations for financial phenomena seen  in modern economies such as credit crises, bubbles, and market failure, and macro-economic differences between economies caused by variations in their financial infrastructure, in particular with respect to lending practices and changes in bank regulation over time. The workshop will also give  an historical review of the data and details of the systemic causes behind historic economic credit crises  and depressions, such as the 1930´s Great Depression, and the 2008 Great Recession.

Note, elements of this workshop contradict some current macro-economic theories.

Contact: Jacky Mallett, +354-693-2144, warlock@alum.mit.edu


Economic Simulation with Threadneedle

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 10:00AM-04:00PM 1-150, Inclusive dates: 14th-23rd January, Bring Laptop

Jacky Mallett - Assistant Professor, Reykjavik University, Iceland;


Internet Matching Technologies & the Geographic Concentration of Skills

Sara Ellison, Senior Lecturer in Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 02:30PM-04:00PM E51-372

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

There is broad consensus that the internet has the potential to become an important
tool for learning, providing previously isolated regions, countries lacking high-quality educational systems, or under-resourced individuals and communities access to skills and knowledge. This paper seeks to answer questions related to this hope in the context of one particular skill, chess-playing. I look for evidence of this democratizing effect on chess skills of internet penetration and, if internet technologies are serving this function, how the geographic distribution of chess skills has changed since the introduction of the internet. Finally, I speculate on what, if anything, can be said about the relevant mechanism given the particular characteristics of how one typically learns to play chess.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Introduction to Credit Analysis & Equity Valuation

Jonathan Piskorowski SM '07, Andrew Henwood SM '07

Add to Calendar Jan/30 Wed 03:00PM-05:00PM E62-262

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Credit Analysis
The corporate bond markets are a key financing markets for a variety of companies.  The first part of this seminar will introduce students to various corporate credit markets and to cover key concepts in credit analysis including the role the ratings agencies and typical financial ratios employed in order to determine the credit risk of a company. The primary focus will be the Investment Grade (IG) bond market. Several examples on how bonds are priced will be provided, and why an IG rating is desirable for a company today will be explained. If time permits, a further overview of other key bond markets (Government, Structured) will be covered.

Equity Valuation
You may be familiar with DCF analysis, but other approaches, such as multiple analysis, net asset value and sum-of-the parts valuation, are important techniques in providing a broader measure of equity valuation. An effort will be made to include several real world examples of how investment professionals value equities in the Energy and Financial sectors.

Instructors: Andrew Henwood SM '07 and Jonathan Piskorowski SM '07

3:00 – 4:00 pm. Introduction to Corp. Credit Analysis
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Introduction to Equity Valuation

Sponsor(s): Alumni Association, Sloan School of Management
Contact: Elena Byrne, W98-206C, 617 252-1143, EBYRNE@MIT.EDU


Making the Leap from Student to Thesis Writer: How to Write Your Dissertation While Maintaining Your Sanity

Amy Finkelstein, John & Jennie S. MacDonald Professor of Economics, Glenn Ellison, Gregory K. Palm Professor of Economics, Alp Simsek, Rudi Dornbusch Career Development Associate Professor, Joshua D. Angrist, Ford Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/22 Tue 01:00PM-02:30PM E52-164

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The transition from course-taking to dissertation-writing is one of the most difficult parts of graduate school. A faculty panel will describe strategies for navigating this transition. They will discuss where to turn for help and guidance, pitfalls to avoid, and distill lessons from their own experiences as students and as advisers.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Responsible Investing: Aligning your financial goals with your values

Mark Porter, CFP, CFA, Financial Planner

Add to Calendar Jan/07 Mon 12:00PM-01:00PM 32-144

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

The world is changing faster than ever, with environment and social pressures growing more acute. Climate change, shifting demographics and the technology revolution are reshaping our planet. For investors, this rapidly changing landscape creates opportunities to potentially reduce risk and improve returns all while staying consistent with their values.

So what is Responsible Investing? It's an approach to investing that aims to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into investment decisions, to better manage risk and generate sustainable, long-term returns.

In this seminar, Mark Porter, CFP®, CFA®, will discuss:

-How Responsible Investing has evolve

-Major trends in Responsible Investing

-How to get started with Responsible Investing

-and more!

Register here.

Sponsor(s): MIT Federal Credit Union
Contact: Meghan Melvin, NE48, 617 715-4703, MBROWNCU@MIT.EDU


Tax Info 101 for Startups

Alice Sloan, Director of Business Development

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 12:30PM-02:00PM E25-111

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/11
Limited to 150 participants

Are you an aspiring entrepreneur? Do you know what to consider regarding the financial aspects of starting your business? 

Join Wolf and Company, P.C. Principals Scott Goodwin and Matt Foley as they share the information you need to know about accounting and income taxes to keep your business on the right track. 

Topics will include:


This session is part of the "Intellectual Property Speaker Series" co-sponsored by the Technology Licensing Office and MIT Libraries. Lunch will be provided to attendees of the Intellectual Property Speaker Series events. 

Please register for the seminar and lunch here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tax-info-101-for-startups-iap-2019-intellectual-property-speaker-series-tickets-53589985088?aff=1141902

FREE SWAG!

We will also be giving away some branded MIT Libraries and Technology Licensing Office swag to participants who attend any 6 sessions from this series, so please check out our other sessions! http://mit_tlo.eventbrite.com

Sponsor(s): Technology Licensing Office, Libraries
Contact: Karen Baird, NE18-501, 617 324-2386, KSHANER@MIT.EDU


Tax Issues for Employees and Entrepreneurs

Howard Mandelcorn, LL.M., Joseph Weber, Professor of Economics

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up
Attendance: Participants welcome at individual sessions

This course intends to expose students to a broad range of tax issues OVER A 2 DAY PERIOD that students will encounter shortly after graduation as an entrepreneur or an employee. For a new employee, taxes are an important consideration in decisions regarding deductions and retirement savings (through employee and employer contributions such as 401k's IRAs, etc). Taxes feature prominently in decisions with respect to stock option-based compensation. Also, tax related issues for U.S. taxpayers working overseas will be addressed. For the entrepreneur, taxes also influence a new business venture's choice of entity: Corporation, LLC, Partnership, Sole Proprietorship.

Instructor: Howard Mandelcorn is a partner at the Hutchings Barsamian Mandelcorn LLP law firm in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Sponsor(s): Sloan School of Management
Contact: Howard Mandelcorn, hmandelcorn@hutchingsbarsamian.com


Individual and Employee Tax Issues

Add to Calendar Jan/29 Tue 01:00PM-04:00PM E52-164

For a new employee, taxes are an important consideration in decisions regarding deductions and retirement savings (through employee and employer contributions such as 401k's IRAs, etc). General Tax Issues will be discussed such as tax obligations of employees, independent contractors, tax rates and whom is obligated to file. Also, tax related issues for U.S. taxpayers working overseas will be addressed.

Howard Mandelcorn, LL.M.


Stock Options and Entrepreneur Tax Issue

Add to Calendar Jan/30 Wed 01:00PM-04:00PM E52-164

Taxes feature prominently in decisions with respect to stock option-based compensation. For the entrepreneur, taxes also influence a new business venture's choice of entity: Corporation, LLC, Partnership, Sole Proprietorship. Changes of the recently enfacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will also be covered.

Howard Mandelcorn, LL.M.


The Engine and Early Stage Venture Funding

Reed Sturtevant, General Partner at The Engine

Add to Calendar Jan/18 Fri 12:30PM-02:00PM E25-111

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/16
Limited to 150 participants

Part incubator, part venture capitalist organization, The Engine is a home for tough tech founders building the next generation of world-changing companies. Launched by MIT in 2016, The Engine works with innovators from MIT and beyond whose disruptive technologies have the greatest potential to solve challenging societal problems. 

In this session you'll hear from Reed Sturtevant, General Partner at the Engine, who will share about The Engine's mission and current projects as well as discuss how innovators can make the most of early stage venture funding in the Boston area. Over the last eight years, Reed has invested in more than 100 Boston companies as an angel and at Techstars, Project 11, and currently at The Engine.

As part of the session, Reed will also provide some feedback on your companies and plans so please come prepared with your questions!

This session is part of the "Intellectual Property Speaker Series" co-sponsored by the MIT Technology Licensing Office and MIT Libraries. Lunch will be provided to attendees of the Intellectual Property Speaker Series events. 

Registration Info:

Please email kshaner@mit.edu if you'd like to attend lunch and register for the session here: http://bit.ly/1181902

FREE SWAG!

We will be giving away branded MIT Libraries and Technology Licensing Office swag to participants who attend any 6 sessions from this series, so please check out our other sessions! http://mit_tlo.eventbrite.com

Sponsor(s): Technology Licensing Office, Libraries
Contact: Karen Baird, NE18-501, 617 324-2386, KSHANER@MIT.EDU


The Federal SBIR Program: Program Basics + How to Apply

Melissa Wong, Program Manager, Rachael Sack, Chief of Innovative Research Program Office

Add to Calendar Jan/28 Mon 12:30PM-02:00PM E25-111

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/25
Limited to 150 participants

The SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) program helps small businesses engage in R&D with potential for commercialization. Melissa Wong and Rachael Sack, SBIR representatives from the Volpe Center, will provide an overview of the SBIR program, including information on the program’s purpose, eligibility, sources of funding, and ideas on what is necessary for a successful application.

The seminar is designed to provide enough information to determine if the program is right for you and if you would like to seriously pursue SBIR proposal development.

This session is part of the "Intellectual Property Speaker Series" co-sponsored by the Technology Licensing Office and MIT Libraries. Lunch will be provided to attendees of the Intellectual Property Speaker Series events. 

Please register for the seminar and lunch here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-federal-sbir-program-program-basics-how-to-apply-iap-2019-tickets-53623349883?aff=1281902

FREE SWAG!

We will also be giving away some branded MIT Libraries and Technology Licensing Office swag to participants who attend any 6 sessions from this series, so please check out our other sessions! http://mit_tlo.eventbrite.com

 

Sponsor(s): Technology Licensing Office, Libraries
Contact: Karen Baird, NE18-501, 617 324-2386, KSHANER@MIT.EDU


The Future of Social Security

Peter Diamond, Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/31 Thu 10:30AM-12:00PM E52-164

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

The Future of Social Security

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


The Role of Firms in Wage-Setting and Inequality

Simon Jager, Family Career Development Assistant Professor of Economics

Add to Calendar Jan/23 Wed 03:00PM-04:00PM E51-372

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

A growing body of evidence suggests that firms play an important role in understanding the tremendous rise in wage inequality experienced in many countries in the last decades. We will review models and evidence to understand the mechanisms through which firms may affect wages.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


The Rollercoaster Ride of RNAi, mRNA and Editing Therapeutics: From Obscurity to a $30B Industry

Tod Woolf, MIT Technology Licensing Officer

Add to Calendar Jan/23 Wed 12:30PM-02:00PM E25-111

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required
Sign-up by 01/21
Limited to 150 participants

Novel therapeutic platforms usually go through the phases of initial enthusiasm, followed by a trough of disappointment to meet the initial hype, and then after years of solving the technical challenges, commercial clinical success is achieved.  

Nucleic acids drugs targeting RNA and the genome provide excellent examples of these cycles. 

Tod Woolf (MIT Technology Licensing Office) will describe the work of his biotech teams and other biotechs in the area of antisense, RNAi, and therapeutic editing that reflect phases of these boom bust cycles, with an emphasis on how chemical modification of nucleic acid drugs contributed to the enablement of nucleic acid therapeutic platforms.

This session is part of the "Intellectual Property Speaker Series" co-sponsored by the MIT Technology Licensing Office and MIT Libraries. Lunch will be provided to attendees of the Intellectual Property Speaker Series events. 

Please register for the seminar and lunch here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-rollercoaster-ride-of-rnai-mrna-and-editing-therapeutics-iap-2019-tickets-53587593936?aff=1231902

FREE SWAG!

We will also be giving away some branded MIT Libraries and Technology Licensing Office swag to participants who attend any 6 sessions from this series, so please check out our other sessions! https://mit_tlo.eventbrite.com

 

 

Sponsor(s): Technology Licensing Office, Libraries
Contact: Karen Baird, NE18-501, 617 324-2386, KSHANER@MIT.EDU


U.S. Banking 101

Latonya Smith-Winston, Community Relations & Development Officer

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 12:00PM-01:00PM 32-144

Enrollment: Limited: Advance sign-up required

Are you new to the United States Banking system? Join us for a seminar designed to help you understand the basics of banking in the U.S, where we will discuss:

- The difference between a Bank and a Credit Union
- Basic banking products you should be familiar with
- Common account opening requirements
- What to look for when shopping for a financial institution
- Differences between online and mobile banking

Register here.

 

Sponsor(s): MIT Federal Credit Union
Contact: Meghan Melvin, NE48, (617) 715-4703, mbrowncu@mit.edu


Understanding the Buzz Around the "Year of the Woman": Applying Global Evidence in Gender and Political Economy

David Alzate, Policy Associate, J-PAL, Mikaela Rabb, Policy Associate, J-PAL, Isabela Salgado, Policy and Communications Intern, J-PAL

Add to Calendar Jan/30 Wed 03:00PM-04:30PM E51-390

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

Women shattered records in the 2018 November midterm elections in the United States. Over 250 women ran in elections and at least 117 women were elected. Still, women only account for 20 percent of US Congressional seats. How can we increase women’s representation and participation in politics in the US and around the world? Why does gender representation matter for public policy and international development? What is the impact of having more women in leadership positions? Researchers at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) are exploring these questions with rigorous impact evaluations around the world. Join J-PAL staff for an exciting discussion on gender and political economy as they share some of the lessons from research by J-PAL- affiliated researchers around the world. 

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Using Economics to Test Innovations in Health: Changing Behavior and Improving Outcomes"

Anupama Dathan, Senior Policy Associate, J-PAL, Caroline Tangoren, Policy Associate, J-PAL

Add to Calendar Jan/14 Mon 03:00PM-04:30PM E51-390

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

What do economists have to do with health? How can we overcome behavioral biases to help improve health knowledge and behaviors for low-income households? These are questions researchers in the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) network, including several professors in MIT's Department of Economics, grapple with every day. Join J-PAL Policy staff for a conversation about how we use randomized controlled trials to test different approaches to pricing healthcare products, nudging people towards healthier behavior, and strengthening health systems. We’ll talk about what types of programs and policies work, what types don’t, and why, and how this evidence influences real-world policy decisions.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu


Using Economics to Test Innovations in Social Policy: Evidence in Education and Entrepreneurship Support

Samantha Friedlander, Policy and Research Associate, Emily Sylvia, Policy Associate, J-PAL

Add to Calendar Jan/16 Wed 10:30AM-12:00PM E51-390

Enrollment: Unlimited: No advance sign-up

How can policymakers increase student enrollment and attendance in the developing world? Can programs that reduce the costs of education increase school participation? How can business training and access to capital support entrepreneurs to start, sustain, and grow their own businesses? These are questions researchers in the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) network, including several professors in the Department of Economics, grapple with every day. Join J-PAL Policy staff for a conversation about how researchers in the J-PAL network use randomized controlled trials to test different approaches to reducing barriers to education, training entrepreneurs, and providing financing for entrepreneurship. We’ll talk about what types of programs are promising and why, and how this evidence influences real-world policy decisions.

Sponsor(s): Economics
Contact: Maren Young, (617) 258-6556, mareny@mit.edu