Indiana University

Skip to:

  1. Search
  2. Breadcrumb Navigation
  3. Content
  4. Browse by Topic
  5. Services & Resources
  6. Additional Resources
  7. Multimedia News

Last modified: Wednesday, October 17, 2012

IU Kelley School's Business Outlook Panel touring the state to provide economic forecast for 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 17, 2012

EDITORS: A schedule of the Business Outlook Panel's appearances is below. Arrangements have been made for electronic media covering the Indianapolis presentation. Media who wish to cover other panel events should check with local sponsors.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A year ago, as economists at Indiana University and its Kelley School of Business put together their annual forecast, the outlook for 2012 was characterized by "lingering uncertainty" and "modest growth." This assessment proved correct, as the economy has crawled along over the past year while continuing to face major challenges.

In preparing their forecasts for 2013, the economists grapple with continuing concerns about the effects of domestic fiscal policy, the European debt crisis and slowing growth abroad. Moreover, the heated rhetoric of the current campaign season hasn't shed much light on the economy's prospects.

"The slow pace of recovery has kept many businesses and consumers from making major investments, putting a damper on economic growth," said Jerry Conover, director of the Indiana Business Research Center in the Kelley School. "While there have been some encouraging signs lately in consumer spending and in the housing and financial markets, a big question remains: What will Congress and the White House do to avoid the fate of Thelma and Louise driving over the fiscal cliff?"

In their 2013 forecast, Conover and other members of the Business Outlook Panel will assess how the changing economic environment will affect business and public policy decisions -- globally, nationally, statewide and in Indiana's major cities.

For nearly 40 years, the Kelley School of Business has presented its national, state and local forecasts through a series of presentations in cities throughout Indiana. Among the questions they plan to address this year are: How will the financial markets fare in the coming months? When will employment finally grow steadily and quickly enough to put the unemployed back to work? Will slower growth in developing nations limit our own growth? How strong will economic growth be in the coming year -- both for the state and the nation?

The Business Outlook Tour will begin with a presentation at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 1 in Indianapolis at the Columbia Club, 121 Monument Circle.

As in the past, this year's panel will feature faculty members from the Kelley School and IU, plus local panelists from other IU campuses and other universities, offering perspectives on the global, national and state economies and financial markets.

The starting point for the forecast is an econometric model of the United States, developed by IU's Center for Econometric Model Research, which employs hundreds of statistical equations to develop a national forecast for the coming year. A similar econometric model of Indiana provides a corresponding forecast for the state's economy, based on the national forecast and data specific to Indiana. The Business Outlook Panel then adjusts the forecasts to reflect additional insights it has on the economic situation.

Appearing at the Indianapolis presentation will be Conover; Kyle J. Anderson, clinical assistant professor of business economics; Robert Neal, associate professor of finance; and Willard Witte, associate professor emeritus of economics and co-director of the Center for Econometric Model Research. Idie Kesner, interim dean of the Kelley School, will moderate the discussion and public question-and-answer session to follow.

This year's tour is sponsored by IU's Kelley School of Business, the IU Alumni Association, IU campuses and various community organizations.

To register for the Indianapolis presentation, contact the Kelley School of Business Office of Development and Alumni Relations at 812-855-6340 or visit its website. The cost is $30 for IU Alumni Association members and $35 for everyone else. A table for 10 people can be reserved for $325, and half tables are available for $170. Advance registration is encouraged and should be done by Thursday, Oct. 25. Call 812-855-6340 after the deadline.

For questions about other panel presentations, contact the sponsoring local organization or the Indiana Business Research Center at 812-855-5507, or visit the IBRC website.

Business Outlook Panel tour schedule:
(Host organizations and contact information are listed in parentheses.)

  • Nov. 1 -- Indianapolis, 7:30 a.m., Columbia Club. (Kelley School of Business Alumni Association, 812-855-6340.)
  • Nov. 1 -- Bloomington, 11:30 a.m., Indiana Memorial Union Frangipani Room, 900 E. Seventh St. The cost is $16 for chamber members and Rotarians and $25 for the general public. (Bloomington North Rotary and Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, 812-336-6381.)
  • Nov. 2 -- Columbus, 7:30 a.m., Columbus Learning Center, 4555 Central Ave., $20. (Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus, 812-379-4457; register on the Columbus Chamber website.
  • Nov. 5 -- Richmond, 11:30 a.m., Lingle Grand Hall, Reid Hospital & Health Care Services, 1100 Reid Parkway, $15. (IU East Alumni Association, Eastern Indiana Chapter of the IU Alumni Association and Reid Hospital and Health Care Services, contact Terry Wiesehan, 765-973-8221 or twiesaha@iue.edu.)
  • Nov. 7 -- Fort Wayne, 11:30 a.m., Ceruiti's, 6601 Innovation Blvd., $20. (IU Alumni Chapter of Northeast Indiana, contact Eric Steenman, 260-490-1374 ext. 2864 or Eric.Steenman@lakecitybank.com.)
  • Nov. 9 -- South Bend, 7:30 a.m., Wiekamp Hall, IU South Bend, free of charge. (Teachers Credit Union and IU Judd Leighton School of Business and Economics, Robert Ducoffe, 574-520-4228 or rducoffe@iusb.edu.)
  • Nov. 9 -- Schererville, 11:30 a.m., Teibles Restaurant, 1775 Route 41, $20. (Lake County Advancement Committee and Calumet College of St. Joseph, contact Caitlin Mills-Groninger, 219-473-4325 or cmillsgroninger@ccsi.edu.)
  • Nov. 15 -- New Albany, 7 a.m., Hoosier Room, IU Southeast, $25 per person or $175 for a table of eight (IU Southeast School of Business and First Harrison Bank, register on the School of Business website or contact Cheryl Young, 812-941-2325 or young24@ius.edu.)
  • Nov. 20 -- Kokomo, 10:30 a.m., Kelley Center, IU Kokomo, free of charge. (IU Kokomo, contact Tonia Ray, 765-455-9485 or tdray@iuk.edu.)
  • Nov. 20 -- Anderson, 11:30 a.m., Anderson Country Club, 602 North Shore Blvd., $15. (Anderson Rotary Club, Janet Brewer, 765-641-4272 or jlbrewer@anderson.edu.)