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Washington University in St. Louis News & Information > News Topics >

Business & Economics

Recovering from the Great Recession
 2010 economic forecast: slow growth with chance of stagnation

Nov. 23,
2009 --
The key issue is not whether the official recession is over, argues economics professor Steve Fazzari, but whether the economy can generate the growth necessary to put many of the unemployed back to work again. "In the deep downturns of the 1970's and early '80's, strong consumer spending growth led to strong recoveries. Unfortunately, I just don't see that happening this time." Fazzari's researh on the consumer spending binge that fueled economic growth for nearly two decades predicted the great risk for financial collapse that contributed to the Great Recession. The question now, is what will drive economic recovery this time? Includes video interview.

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Beyond the financial crisis
 Citi CEO Vikram Pandit offers career advice to Olin MBAs

Nov. 13,
2009 --
What happens when the CEO of one of the largest financial institutions in the world sits down to talk with MBA students? Olin Business School students had a long list of questions for Citi CEO Vikram Pandit when he visited recently. The discussion ranged from the financial crisis to reform, compensation to career choices. Pandit offered candid advice to the students with concerns about unemployment numbers and the loss of jobs on Wall Street.

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Cruise control
 Expert advises automakers to take it slow on road to recovery

Nov. 13,
2009 -- GM releases its first quarterly results post-bankruptcy on Nov. 16. U.S. auto sales in October equaled an annualized rate of 10 million vehicles. That's a steep drop from the 17 million cars sold each year from 1991-2007. Not even a robust recovery from the recession is expected to boost sales near previous highs. Bailouts, bankruptcies and cash for clunkers have helped keep the industry afloat this year. Yet, the reality of too many factories and workers remains as demand continues to dip. Supply chain expert Panos Kouvelis says auto makers need to keep the brakes on production and proceed with caution. Video available.

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Prize draws attention to new economic theory; criticism from traditionalists
 Douglass North speaks out on 2009 Nobel Prize in economics

Oct. 21,
2009 -- "A lot of people were horrified that it was the first time a political scientist got the prize," says Douglass C. North in a video interview on the 2009 Nobel prize in economics.
North, a 1993 recipient of the prestigious award, defends this year's winners, Elinor Ostrom and Oliver Williamson, as pioneers in the New Institutional Economics that uses an interdisciplinary approach to research. Traditional economists who favor formal mathematical model-based theory are critical of the institutional approach and Nobel recognition of the social sciences versus pure economics.
North talks about this year's winners, their work and New Institutional Economics in accompanying video.

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What spooks the stock market in October?
 Ripening pumpkins, sunspots and scratching dogs may be best indicators of next crash

Oct. 5,
2009 --
What do ripening pumpkins, sunspots and scratching dogs have to do with stock market crashes in the month of October? Just ask Washington University in St. Louis economics professor Stephen Williamson. He proposes three theories on why the stock market might tend to crash in October as it did so famously in 1929, 1987 and 2008.

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Banking expert says Fed's plan to curb compensation is wrong
 Executive pay is on G-20 agenda this week

Sept. 23,
2009 -- World leaders from the Group of 20 industrialized and developing nations gather in Pittsburgh this week and the global banking system is on the top of the agenda. Topics for discussion will include how to strengthen banks and help prevent financial crises like the one that roiled global markets a year ago. U.S. and European regulations of executive compensation at banks will also be scrutinized at the summit. Olin Business School professor and banking expert Stuart Greenbaum's advice: proceed with caution.

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Entrepreneurs changing lives
 Kiva microfinancer Jessica Jackley to deliver talk on entrepreneurship; kick off competitions

Sept. 4,
2009 -- Jessica Jackley, co-founder of Kiva, the Internet-driven microfinance organization that connects lenders with budding entrepreneurs, will deliver the Assembly Series/Skandalaris Lecture at 5 p.m. Thursday, September 17 in Simon Hall's May Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. This is the kickoff event for the Skandalaris Center's annual business plan competitions: the Olin Cup, and the YouthBridge Social Entrepreneur and Innovation Competition.

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Census Bureau to release health insurance numbers Sept. 10
 Discrediting official uninsured estimates only minimizes the real health care problem, says health economist

Sept. 3,
2009 --
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The health reform debate to date has been characterized by a lot of confusion and misinformation. "The conclusion that most of the uninsured either are voluntarily uninsured or do not need assistance is erroneous," says Timothy McBride, Ph.D., leading health economist and associate dean of public health at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. The Census Bureau will announce the official health insurance estimates on Thursday, Sept. 10. According to McBride, because of the economic downturn, the number of uninsured may top 50 million.

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Future for aspiring non-profit entrepreneurs is bright in St. Louis
 Social enterprise competition gets renewed funding; changes name

Sept. 2,
2009 -- The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (SEIC) enters its fifth year with a new name in recognition of a St. Louis community foundation. The competition offers mentoring, business advice and workshops for social enterprise start-ups. Contestants in the seven month-long competition must pass several hurdles before investment awards, totaling thousands of dollars, are announced next spring for the most promising ventures.

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Kouvelis to assume new senior associate deanship
 Olin Business School names new head of exec

Aug. 17,
2009 --
Panos Kouvelis, a professor of operations and manufacturing management at the Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, has been named to the new position of senior associate dean and director of executive programs. From St. Louis to Shanghai, Olin offers a wide variety of executive education programs including the Executive MBA degree, topic-focused seminars and custom corporate learning programs. Kouvelis brings a rich background of teaching, research and consulting to this new position which is part of a larger strategic plan for continued growth and innovation in executive education.

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