Currency Disputes (YP Discussion Group)

Currency Disputes (YP Discussion Group)

The World Affairs Council, Young Professionals invite you to our fortnightly discussion group:

Wednesday, 27 October 2010 | 7:00 p.m.

Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison St. (Map)

In the last two weeks, every country and international organization has weighed in on currency issues. Everyone agrees that exchange rates are causing distortions in global trade, but facts are hard to identify amidst the political grandstanding. Now that the US and EU appear to be ready to make global currency policy a high priority, what will the developing world do to counter?

This topic has a few challenging technical dimensions. Here is a link to an interview with Olivier Blanchard of the IMF and an audio article on the issue from The Economist for background.

Former IMF Official on Economic Crisis

"The global economic crisis 2007-09; it's origins, the incipient recovery, and the perspective of the IMF"
Erik Offerdal, former Official of the International Monetary Fund

Friday, Oct 22- 3 pm
Portland State University, Cramer Hall 325

Former IMF official Erik Offeral will be giving a presentation on the economic crisis as part of the PSU Econ Dept.'s Seminar Series. The event is free and all are welcome.

National Identity (YP Discussion Group)

The World Affairs Council, Young Professionals invite you to our fortnightly discussion group:

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 | 7:00 p.m.

Madison's Grill, 1109 SE Madison St. (Map)

One argument used to justify the expulsion of Romanis in France was a perceived lack of desire to assimilate. Across Europe, the importance of maintaining a national identity built on shared values has been used to discriminate against Muslims. These same arguments are finding sympathetic ears in the US too. How is national identity defined? When is forced conformity justified?