Top economists offer insights at Economic Outlook: 1999-2000

Four top economists will present their insights and forecasts at an executive briefing sponsored by the School of Business. At the upcoming “Economic Outlook: 1999-2000,” well-known experts will forecast the future of the international, national and regional economies for the rest of 1999 and first quarter of 2000.

To obtain more information, or to enroll, call (800) 292-8964; or visit the Economic Outlook web site.

The event is scheduled March 12 from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. in Morgridge Auditorium, Grainger Hall, 975 University Ave.

The economists are:

Diane Swonk, deputy chief economist and senior vice president for Bank One Corporation, Chicago, will forecast the course of the overall economy for the nation and its major sectors. She will predict the next four quarters for GDP, inflation, market conditions, employment and consumer sentiment. She will offer in-depth and insightful projections that will help organizations plan and budget for the next 12 months.

Rao Chalasani, chief investment strategist, EVEREN Securities, Inc., Chicago, brings in-depth knowledge of the international scene. He will discuss the Euro’s impact on the dollar, business opportunities for U.S. companies, pricing issues and restructuring in Europe. The Wall Street Journal named Chalasani the top investment strategist for asset allocation recommendations in 1992 and 1994.

Clare Zempel, CFA, chief investment strategist, chief economist and vice president, Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc., Milwaukee, will review current banking and financial market conditions. He will project stock and bond markets and interest rates for the rest of 1999. A regular guest on CNN, Zempel was recently named by Business Week as one of the nation’s top 10 investment advisors.

Don Nichols, UW–Madison professor of economics and public policy, and director of the La Follette Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy, will conclude the program with a summary of the business, employment, and economic conditions in Wisconsin and the Midwest. Nichols will offer industrial and financial projections that include whether the state and region will lead or lag behind the national economy. A prolific writer and nationally recognized speaker, Nichols is well known for his consistent record of accurate forecasting at Economic Outlook conferences.

The audience can question the experts after their presentations. The conference cost is $275 per person, with discounts for two or more registrants from the same organization. The fee includes lunch, program materials and refreshment breaks. Organized by the business school’s Management Institute, the semi-annual economic outlook conference has been a valuable resource for the business community for the last 25 years.