Economic Outlook Forum:  Policies and Prospects

How soon will the US and global economies recover, and how robust will that recovery be? Come and hear prominent economists from global firms with local offices.  Following the formal presentations, Q&A will focus on how teams at these firms produce the economic analysis and the forecasts, and what kinds of skills are needed to work in this fast-paced, up-to-the-minute work environment.  A reception following the forum offers opportunity for further discussion.

Sara Johnson
Managing Director, Global Macroeconomics
Country Analysis and Forecasting Group
IHS Global Insight
Lexington, MA 02421 U.S.A.

Geoffrey Somes
Vice President & Senior Economist
State Street Global Advisors Economics Team
Boston, MA  02111

Catherine L. Mann, Moderator
Professor of Finance and Acting Director, Rosenberg Institute of Global Finance

Open to public.
Priority seating to IBS students and faculty.

Please RSVP to Nancy W. Allen at nallew@brandeis.edu by Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Biographies of Panelists:

Sara Johnson is Managing Director of Global Macroeconomics with IHS Global Insight.  In this role, she helps clients assess worldwide business and financial opportunities and risks.  IHS Global Insight provides economic forecasts and analyses of 204 countries. Ms. Johnson co-authors the Global Executive Summary, edits IHS Insight, leads the North American team of the IHS Global Scenarios Initiative, and writes frequent analyses of consumer markets. She was previously North American Research Director and Chief Regional Economist with Standard & Poor’s DRI, a predecessor of IHS Global Insight.  Ms. Johnson holds a B.A. degree in economics and mathematics from Wellesley College and an M.A. in economics from Harvard University with concentrations in finance and macroeconomic theory.  Ms. Johnson is a director of the National Association for Business Economics (through October 2009) and a member of The Boston Economic Club and American Economic Association. 

Geoffrey Somes is a Vice President at State Street Global Advisors in Boston and Senior Economist with State Street's Economics team. Geoff has worked closely with SSgA Chief Economist Christopher Probyn since 2005 forecasting and analyzing economic events in the global economy and evaluating their impacts on financial markets. Geoff's research focuses on the US, the UK, Canada and Australia.  Geoff has been a professional economist since 1991. Previously, he was Senior Economist with FleetBoston Financial Group in Boston and was Director of Macroeconomic Forecasting with consulting firm Economy.com in West Chester, PA. Geoff also spent some time in public service as a Financial Economist with the US Department of the Treasury in Washington, DC, working on banking policy.  Geoff received his BA with distinction in economics from Connecticut College in New London, CT, and his MA in economic policy from Duke University in Durham, NC. Additionally, Geoff earned an MA in monetary theory and econometric analysis from Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA, where he has also done doctoral work.