Top Indiana University experts will deliver their 2014 forecasts for local, state, national, and global economies and financial markets on Thursday, November 7 at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC).

The forecasts are part of Indiana University’s annual Economic Outlook Breakfast series held each year on IU campuses across the state.

Dr. Frank Wadsworth, head of the Division of Business at IUPUC, invites local residents to attend. “Business owners and executives, municipal officials, civic leaders, and citizens throughout southeastern Indiana who are interested in U.S. and global economic issues are welcome to join us.”

The four panelists, each of whom is recognized for expertise in identifying new and emerging financial trends, will discuss their predictions for the top domestic and international economic issues business and government leaders can expect in the next year. They include:

• U.S. and Global Outlook: Dr. Ellie Mafi-Kreft
  Clinical assistant professor of business economics and public policy for the Kelley School of Business, Dr. Mafi-Kreft has taught at Indiana University since 2006, where she researches monetary institutions and the relationship among business, government, and nonprofits.
   
• Financial Markets Outlook: Dr. Charles A. Trzcinka
  Dr. Trzcinka, the James & Virginia Cozad Chair of Finance for the Kelley School of Business, specializes in empirical investigations of asset pricing, measurement of risk, and management of investment institutions. His recent work focuses on transactions costs, mutual fund performance, and performance of money-management firms. His writings have received national media coverage by Business Week, the New York Times, Washington Post, and Money Magazine, among others.
   
• State Outlook: Dr. Theresa Williams
  Director of Indiana University’s Center for Education and Research in Retailing, Williams is clinical associate professor of marketing for the Kelley School of Business. Her research focus is on making recommendations to improve industry practice in retail marketing strategy and performance analysis.
   
• Local Outlook: Dr. Ryan Brewer
  Dr. Brewer’s work has been highlighted on CNN, CNBC, and Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick and he has been published in the Wall Street Journal, the Indianapolis Business Journal, and the Chronicle of Higher Education in addition to academic literature and journals.  A frequent expert witness on financial matters in federal and state courts, Brewer is an assistant professor of finance at IUPUC. 

The event, sponsored by Centra Credit Union and co-hosted by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce and the Division of Business at IUPUC, begins at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast just outside the Columbus Learning Center Auditorium & Lecture Hall at 4555 Central Avenue.

The panel discussion begins at 8 a.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions after the presentations. They can also participate via text messaging in an ongoing poll on various economic issues.

Wadsworth, a professor of marketing and international studies at IUPUC, will serve as the event moderator. His research and professional interests focus on franchising and international corruption.

“The statewide Economic Outlook Breakfasts are one of Indiana University’s most popular events,” Wadsworth reported. “Many Hoosiers are interested in what IU experts have to say about what they can expect for the economy as we approach a new year.”

Much of the data and work that comprises the annual outlooks is compiled and interpreted by the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC), which is a unit of the Kelley School of Business. The IBRC maintains statistics and other information used by key state and national decision- and policy-makers.

The cost to attend is $15. Parking near the Columbus Learning Center is free. Attendees can register online at columbusareachamber.com/events or call 812.379.4457 to register by phone.