Economists to gather at Ithaca College

The current national and international economic crisis will be very much the topic of conversation on the Ithaca College campus this coming weekend, as more than 70 economists gather on Saturday, Oct. 11, for the annual meeting of the New York State Economics Association (NYSEA).“This year’s meeting comes at a time of serious concern regarding the status of our financial and credit markets, and the appropriateness and impact of the $700 billion rescue plan recently passed by Congress,” said William Kolberg, associate professor of economics at Ithaca College and current president of the NYSEA. “Many of the presentations will address concerns about what lies ahead for economic activity both in the U.S. and internationally. In addition, informal discussions among participants and guests will be focused on these issues.”A panel discussion on “Macroeconomic Policy and the Current Mortgage Meltdown Crisis” will be chaired by Richard Dietz, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Panelists will include Roger Hinderliter, an associate professor of economics at Ithaca College who formerly served with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland.For more information on the conference and the NYSEA, visit http://organizations.oneonta.edu/nysea/.Conference sessions will be held on a wide range of economics issues, including: * How Falling Exchange Rates Have Affected the U.S. Economy and Trade Deficit * Government as Facilitator of Anti-Poverty Programs * Economic Cycle and Optimal Timing for Investment * Off-Track Betting and the New York Economy * Tuition Increase: Exploring Factors Causing it * Immigration and Foreign Direct InvestmentA session featuring research conducted by undergraduates will include presentations by Ithaca College students on “Measuring the Social Cost of a Chemical Spill in Ithaca, New York,” and “An Assessment of U.S. Air Quality Policy: Past, Present, and Future.”To learn more about individual conference sessions and participants, or to arrange for an interview, contact William Kolberg at (607) 279-4998 or [email protected]