A conference organised by Feasta and the Smart Taxes Network.
Date: Thursday afternoon 22nd – Friday 23 September 2011
Venue: Mont Clare Hotel, Dublin
October 17 note: Videos of the conference presentations are now online here.
As the Eurozone debt crisis deepens each day, leading International and Irish economists discuss urgent national strategies for dealing with the fall out in Ireland.
This two-day event addressed several key questions – Can Ireland rely on global economic growth to resolve its public debt crisis? What is the relationship between energy, the crisis and future economic growth? What about private debt problems including mortgage debt? Can the Euro survive? Should Ireland plan for a Euro-zone break up? Is anything to be gained by leaving first? Could a new Irish currency working in parallel with the Euro be a better solution?
Minister Joan Burton TD opened the conference. Leading international economists were invited to respond to these important questions:
- US based Marshall Auerback (Roosevelt Institute Fellow & global portfolio strategist for Madison Street Partners, LLC) addressed the quandary of the Eurozone from a provocative new monetary perspective.
- Prof. Charles Goodhart (member of the Financial Markets Group at the London School of Economics & former monetary adviser to the Bank of England) discussed the merits of a parallel/ secondary currency model.
- Bernard Lietaer (author of ‘The Future of Money’ & international expert in currency systems) shared his insights into the potential benefits of regional currencies within a larger monetary union.
Respected Irish economists of both mainstream and alternative viewpoints engaged with these ideas, discussed their own proposals and fully explored the options available to Ireland. Speakers included Fergal O’Brien (Chief Economist – IBEC), Richard Douthwaite (Sustainability Economist and Author), Dan O’Brien (Economic Editor- Irish Times), Paul Sweeney (economist with ICTU), Prof Ray Kinsella (UCD, Michael Smurfit Business School.), Constantin Gurdgiev (Adjunct Prof. of Economics TCD) and David Korowicz (Physicist and Human Systems Ecologist).
The audience was encouraged to fully participate in the debate, which was stimulated by moderators who are also expert in their fields. Moderators included David McWilliams (Economist), Peter Mathews (TD, Chartered Accountant and Banking and Finance Consultant), Prof. Terrence McDonough (Economics Dept. NUIG), Karl Deeter (Irish Mortgage Brokers), Graham Barnes (IT Currency Consultant), Deirdre de Burca (Former Green Party Spokesperson on EU affairs) and Emer O’Siochru (Architect and Renewable Energy Developer).
The conference was aimed at economists, politicians, policy-makers, business people, social partners and other interested parties.
| Date: | Thurs & Friday September 22nd & 23rd |
| Registration: | 1.00pm Thursday 22nd Sept. |
| Conference: | Thurs 2.00—5.30 p.m Friday 10am – 4pm |
| Venue: | Mont Clare Hotel, Merrion Square, Dublin 2. |
Read Graham Barnes’ preview article on the Parallel Punt
Featured image: cut expenses 3. Author: lusi. Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1176253
