What are the actual causes and consequences of the economic crisis? Why were economists not able to predict this catastrophe? What are the limits and possibilities of the social sciences to shape societies?
Right: George Akerlof. Photo by Yan Chi Vinci Chow.
These are some of the questions that will be addressed at the inaugural conference of Glendon’s Centre for Global Challenges, a new bilingual think-tank on some of Canada’s and the world’s most urgent challenges. The conference, After the Meltdown: The Limits and Possibilities of Economics, will take place March 24, from 2 to 5pm in the BMO Conference Centre, Glendon Hall, Glendon campus.
Left: Pierre Fortin
Three economists will share their thoughts and suggest alternatives to public policies currently in place. They are George Akerlof, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, and the Daniel E. Koshland Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley; Tim Besley, Kuwait Professor of Economics & Political Science at the London School of Economics and director of the Suntory & Toyota International Centres for Economics & Related Disciplines; and Pierre Fortin, an economics professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal and past president of the Canadian Economics Association.
Right: Tim Besley
The discussions will be moderated by consultant and policy adviser Eugene Lang, who is also the co-founder of Canada 2020 and vice-president of Bluesky Strategy Group.
The conference will be of interest to seasoned economists, as well as to all members of the Glendon community and the general public. Professors, students, public officials, business executives, activists and engaged citizens will each find much to reflect upon at this event.
Admission is free, but seats are limited. To reserve a seat, e-mail globalchallenges@glendon.yorku.ca.
The conference is organized by the Centre for Global Challenges in partnership with the Glendon School of Public & International Affairs, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Canada 2020, the Jay & Barbara Hennick Centre for Business & Law, The Mark and Global Brief.