November 2019 Conference

Dean
J.Mack Robinson College of Business

“Why has the Phillips curve become flatter?”

Numerous studies have documented a "flattening" of the U.S. Phillips curve in recent decades---implying that lower unemployment rates (or higher levels of real GDP relative to potential GDP) appear to exert less upward pressure on inflation than in the past. This talk examines some possible explanations for this phenomenon and implications for the U.S. economy.

Research Advisor
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

“Non-Qualified Mortgages. A Potential Growth Area for Lenders – But Not Without Risk. ”

Running up to the financial crisis, lending products like “liar loans” or “NINJA” loans became infamous. “NINJA” being short for no income, no job, no assets. The joke was if you could fog a mirror or had a pulse, you qualified for a loan. A new form of those loans are making a comeback today. We will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly as this next generation of “non QM” mortgages is taking shape in today’s market.

Fixed Income Trader
Raymond James

"Branding Y’allywood: A Strategy for Sustaining Georgia’s Media Industries"

Too much of the reporting on the effect of Georgia’s Entertainment Tax Credit focuses on economic impact figures and anecdotes about movie stars’ affinity for southern charm. This ephemeral evidence makes the tax credit especially vulnerable to the changing political winds such as the controversial “Heartbeat Bill.” Applying Media Industries Studies research methodologies, Ethan Tussey describes how the recognition of the unique production culture of Georgia’s below-the-line creative workers (including casting agents, prop houses vendors, and animators) helps define the creative brand of the state. Learning from the lessons of New Orleans, Vancouver, and Wilmington and focusing on a distinct brand for Georgia can establish the state as a media capital with a unique creative culture vital to storytellers across the globe.

Associate Professor of Film and Media
Georgia State University

Forecast of the Nation, State and Region

Rajeev Dhawan delivers his keynote presentation on the economic outlook of the United States, Georgia and the Atlanta Metro Region. Join us as he shares his views on the state of the global economy as well as employment and consumption trends and their impact on industry in Georgia. He will discuss, in particular, the implications for residential and commercial real estate in the Atlanta Metro Region.

Zwerner Chair of Economic Forecasting
& Director
Economic Forecasting Center
J. Mack Robinson College of Business