The World Economy – Picking up the Pieces

• One day conference exploring the challenges ahead

Following the global financial crisis of 2007-8, economies around the world face many uncertainties. Mired in a deep recession, with public finances barely under control, economic policy has been shown more than ever to be a shot in the dark. Now a one-day conference will consider the issues of how we best reshape regulation of financial markets, and asks how and when should public finances be returned to balance?

Organised by the ESRC World Economy and Finance Research Programme, the conference will bring together policy makers, market practitioners, independent commentators, and academics, to discuss key issues.

"The models of economies and financial markets that underpinned the policy framework of the last decade have been thrown into question," says Birkbeck's Professor John Driffll, Programme Director. "It's now time to consider where we go from here. How soon should we wind in all the monetary rope that has been paid out?"

Speakers at the event include economists from the Bank of England and HM Treasury. Also speaking is George Alogoskoufis, Greece's Minister of Economy and Finance from 2004-2009. George was a staff member in the Birkbeck Economic department from 1984 -1992, first as a lecturer, later becoming Reader in Economics.

'Picking up the Pieces: Challenges for Policy and Theory in the Years ahead'

Thursday 28 January 2010, 2.00 - 7.00pm, One Great George Street, London, SW1P 3AA

All are welcome to attend, but early registration is advised.

Click here for a provisional programme and details of how to register.

About the World Economy and Finance Research Programme

The WEFRP brings together 26 research projects at universities around the United Kingdom. It is one of the Economic and Social Research Council’s major investments in macroeconomics and finance, and has received funding of around £6 million between 2004 and 2010.

The main objective of the programme is to promote and support world-class theoretical, empirical and policy-oriented research on the interrelationship between finance and the world economy; to advance our understanding of the ways in which financial markets and financial policies influence major global issues, such as poverty, development, growth and transition; and to analyse policy issues in a variety of institutional and cultural settings in an era of low inflation, increasingly integrated financial markets, changing demographics and trade patterns.

Click here to learn more about the programme.