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As the world watches the financial crisis with bated breath, The Centre for Independent Studies will present a series of roundtables to discuss the underlying causes of the global financial crisis, appropriate regulatory responses, and the future of Australian and global markets.
Australia is arguably in a strong position compared with the rest of the world, and our financial house is in reasonably good order. But with daily references in the media and on the street to the Great Depression, is it likely that we will experience a downturn of such dramatic and dire proportions? Walt Disney’s famous animated film of 1933, The Three Little Pigs, was widely touted as an allegory for the Depression; seventy-five years on, is the wolf at our door again?
Join economists, business leaders, academics, and financial commentators for these critical and in-depth discussions of the crisis, with short formal presentations to stimulate discussion amongst all participants. Please note that this event will be filmed, and attended by the media. A publication of the proceedings will be produced.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
The Ban on Short Selling: Help or Hindrance?
Amid sharp falls in global stock markets, governments around the world implemented temporary bans on the short selling of financial stocks. In Australia, the authorities went further, banning the short selling of all stocks. Was the ban necessary, or was it a case of shooting the messenger? Did the ban work to stabilise markets, or did it have unintended and destabilising consequences?
Speakers
Dr Robert Bianchi, Lecturer, School of Economics and Finance at QUT,
and a Principal of Sydney-based hedge fund H3 Global Advisors
John M. Green, Director, investor and writer, formerly Executive Director
of Macquarie’s investment banking group
Dr Stephen Kirchner, Research Fellow (Economics), CIS
[Click here to watch the video of this event]
[Click here for available transcripts of this event]
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Depositor Protection and Government Bailouts
Have government (and central bank) policy responses been appropriate? What would be better? What does the crisis tell us about regulation of financial markets and institutions? To what extent did regulation actually contribute to the collapse? A look at monetary policy, liquidity injections, selective interventions to rescue or nationalise specific institutions, and the Bush Administration’s $700 billion package.
Speakers
Professor Warren Hogan, Adjunct Professor, School of Economics and Finance, UTS
Professor Peter L. Swan, AM FASSA, Scientia Professor, School of Banking and Finance, Australian School of Business, UNSW
Michael Stutchbury, Economics Editor, The Australian
[Click here to watch the video of this event]
[Click here for available transcripts of this event]
Monday, 8 December 2008
The End of Capitalism? Exploring the Global Financial Crisis
What are the underlying causes of the crisis? How has it evolved from a decline in US house prices to a global financial sector crisis? How serious a risk does Wall Street pose to Main Street? What does the crisis tell us about capitalism and free markets? How serious is the backlash against capitalism? What can history teach us?
Speakers
Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich, Research Fellow (Economics), CIS
Dr Razeen Sally, Co-director, European School of International Political Economy (on sabbatical from the London School of Economics)
Other Speakers TBA
[Click here to watch the video of this event]
Venue The Library, The Centre for Independent Studies, Level 4, 38 Oxley Street, St Leonards. Parking is available across the road at the Hume Street Car Park.
Time Each roundtable will run from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm, and will be followed by a more informal discussion over drinks.
Booking Places are limited and attendance is by reservation only. To book, please email Meegan Boughton, CIS Events Manager, at mboughton@cis.org.au or call (02) 9438 4377. RSVPs close one week prior to each event. |