Princeton University

PRIOR released a  publication “Regional and National Financial Crises: Roots, Results and Responses,” of a forum held earlier this year at the Woodrow Wilson School.

Former Congressman James A. Leach, Woodrow Wilson School Professor Alan Blinder, former Federal Reserve Board Vice Chairman, and Susan Wachter, Professor of Finance at the Wharton School were the key note speakers who analyzed the causes of the current financial crises and offered recommendations for solutions. They were joined by other notable experts in the field who placed these historical crises in context, and offered their opinions on how we got into this mess, and the possible resolutions of these enormous problems.

The morning session focused on the anatomy of the mortgage crisis and the macro and micro level motivations and decisions that triggered the present phenomena. The second session discussed the looming threats in the public finance arena caused by the inappropriate use of auction, derivatives and interest rate swaps entered into by state and local governments that resulted in significant costs to the taxpayers.

If you would like more information or a printed copy of the publication, please contact Georgette Harrison gharriso@princeton.edu.