Many economists believe we are presently living through the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression. Why has this crisis taken place and what lessons should be learned to avoid a repetition in the future?
U.S. President George W. Bush has invited the leaders of the countries comprising the “Group of 20” to discuss these questions in a set of summits. This is an unprecedented initiative, signaling not just the seriousness of the crisis, but also the widespread desire of policymakers around the world to reform the global financial system.
What kinds of reforms are being discussed and what is likely to be achieved? To what extent are the reforms being proposed likely to prevent future global financial crises?
Speaker: Eric Helleiner
Professor Helleiner is CIGI Chair in International Governance at the University of Waterloo’s Department of Political Science. He received his B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto, and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Department of International Relations of the London School of Economics.
Helleiner is author of several books, including The Politics and History of Canada’’s Exchange Rate Regime. He has also co-edited two other books and published dozens of articles and book chapters on topics relating to international political economy, monetary and financial issues. He has won the Marvin Gelber Essay Prize in International Relations (awarded by the Canadian Institute for International Affairs), and his most recent book received the 2007 Donner Prize
Presently, Eric Helleiner is co-editor of the book series “Cornell Studies in Money”. He is also working on a SSHRC-funded research project exploring the origins of international development and North-South monetary relations in the postwar period. Other current research interests include: regulatory responses to the current financial crisis and the growing financial influence of China.
Professor Eric Helleiner was nominated a Trudeau Fellow in 2007.
Moderator: Ray Speaker
Mr. Speaker is a former Member of Parliament for Lethbridge and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
SACPA IS GRATEFUL TO THE PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU FOUNDATION FOR MAKING THIS PRESENTATION POSSIBLE