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IU Business Outlook Panel presents forecast for year 2000 statewide
EDITORS: A schedule of the panel's appearances is attached.
Oct. 14, 1999
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Since 1972, Indiana University's Business Outlook Panel has traveled the state to inform Hoosiers about the business and economic trends which affect them. Who better to forecast what's coming in the year 2000?
The faculty panel will begin its annual tour of Indiana with a presentation Nov. 4 at 7:30 a.m. EST at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis. The panel of IU experts will forecast economic conditions for the state and nation in the coming year, and will discuss current state economic development issues.
Visiting 10 cities over a two-week period, the panel will feature faculty members from IU's Kelley School of Business and the IU Department of Economics, as well as guest panelists from other IU campuses and state universities who will give a local forecast.
Larry Davidson, director of the Kelley School's Global Business Information Network and co-chair of the Business Outlook Panel Committee, notes that the panel's presentation features an experienced faculty in a broad range of areas and disciplines. "Most of us on the panel have been doing this for more than 20 years," he said. "We have developed research skills, as well as a unique delivery that is informative, up-to-date and entertaining."
Like Davidson, several panelists head research centers in econometrics, state business research and real estate. Other panelists have been members of the U.S. President's Council of Economic Advisors and have counseled other governments abroad.
"All of this coming from a major university, we're able to cover everything from local issues to global politics," Davidson said. "You won't find many presentations like this that field a such a broad range of experts."
Economic trends looming large in the coming year include growing concerns about U.S. monetary policy and interest rates, and whether the Federal Reserve will aggressively restrain economic growth to fight off inflation. Other questions concern the potential implications of a federal budget with a $1 billion surplus that excludes the Social Security trust fund. The U.S. trade deficit is larger than it has ever been in modern times, which could affect trade policies. In Indiana, questions continue to center on the state's "Rainy Day" fund and a labor shortage.
The presentations will feature a national, state and local economic forecast for the year 2000, and identification of other topics of concern to decision-makers and business leaders in Indiana. The starting point for the forecast is the Indiana Econometric Model, which combines state statistics and a national forecast to develop projections for the coming year.
This year's tour is sponsored by the IU School of Business and its Alumni Association, the IU Alumni Association, IU campuses and local chambers of commerce.
Appearing with the panel this year, in addition to Davidson, will be:
• Morton J. Marcus, director of the Indiana Business Research Center
• R. Jeffery Green, IU associate dean of business and co-director of the Indiana Center for Econometric Model Research
• Bruce L. Jaffee, IU associate dean of business and professor of business economics and public policy
• Michele Fratianni, chairperson and professor of business economics and public policy and the W. George Pinnell Professor
• John A. Boquist, the Edward E. Edwards Professor of Finance
• Phillip T. Powell, assistant professor of business economics and public policy
• Michael R. Montgomery, visiting associate professor of business economics and public policy
• James C. Smith, Indiana Business Research Center research economist
• Michael A. Simkowitz, professor of finance
• Willard E. Witte, IU associate professor of economics
Joining the visiting panel for local presentations will be Ammar Askari, Indiana University Purdue University Columbus; Gale Blalock, University of Evansville; Fay Greckel, IU Southeast; Thomas L. Guthrie, Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW); Robert J. Kirk, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI); Don Coffin, IU Northwest; Dilip Pendse, IU Kokomo; Thayr Richey, Strategic Development Group; and Ashton Veramallay, IU East.
The Business Outlook Panel program was founded in 1972 as a service to bring current economic information to the state's business communities. For more information about any of the presentations, contact the local sponsoring organization or the IU School of Business Alumni Office at 812-855-6340.
1999 BUSINESS OUTLOOK PANEL
TOUR SCHEDULE
NOTE: Local sponsors and their phone numbers are listed in parentheses.
(George Vlahakis, 812-855-0846, gvlahaki@indiana.edu)