February 10, 2010 at 12:23 pm
European Union governments are grappling how to manage the debt crisis in Greece that threatens to undermine the shared euro currency. Economics Professor Laurence Kotlikoff, who a decade ago in Foreign Affairs magazine predicted the euro’s collapse, says Greece’s debt woes are a precursor to what may happen in the U.S.
“Greece is where the United States is heading. Indeed, there is strong reason to believe that the U.S. is in much worse fiscal shape than is Greece.”
Contact Laurence Kotlikoff, 617-353-4002, kotlikoff@bu.edu
February 9, 2010 at 5:35 pm
After months of debate, France has unveiled a patriotic initiative that will have schools flying the French flag and students singing the national anthem -- and require immigrants to sign a declaration of French values. The move comes amid growing anti-Muslim sentiment in France. International relations Professor William Keylor says it's no different than Americans saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school or singing the Star Spangled Banner at ball games.
"These proposals to promote good citizenship, which seem so natural to us, have become controversial because they are viewd by many recent Muslim immigrants as part of a campaign to prevent them from practicing their faith."
Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu
February 9, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Federal Judge Jed Rakoff suggests he may reject a $150 million proposed deal reached between Bank of America and the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle charges the bank misled shareholders when it took over Merrill Lynch. Law Professor Elizabeth Nowicki, once an S.E.C. attorney, says she's sympathetic to the S.E.C, but applauds the judge's judicial guts.
"I am delighted that Judge Rakoff is unwilling to accept on blind faith a seemingly weak resolution of a very important and fairly egregious case."Contact Elizabeth Nowicki, 617-353-2807, enowicki@bu.edu
February 9, 2010 at 11:12 am
With President Obama inviting Congressional Republicans to a Feb. 25 summit in hopes of reviving healthcare reform legislation, political jockeying is under way. House GOP leaders say they may boycott unless the bills that passed both Democrat-controlled chambers are scrapped. School of Management Professor Stephen Davidson, author of "Still Broken: Understanding the U.S. Healthcare System" says the GOP should take advantage of the bipartisan offer.
"Maybe the Republicans will have good ideas that can be incorporated into the bills. If not, the public will see the emptiness of their rhetoric."
Contact Stephen Davidson, 617-353-7422, sdavidso@bu.edu
February 9, 2010 at 6:00 am
The Creative Writing Program will be hosting its annual Faculty Reading tonight at 7:30 PM in the School of Management Auditorium (595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston). The readers will include: former US Poets Laureate Robert Pinsky and Louise Glück; novelist and Director of the Program, Leslie Epstein; poet and translator David Ferry; novelist Allegra Goodman and Ha Jin; playwright Melinda Lopez; and poets Rosanna Warren and William Delman. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 617-353-2510, or visit http://www.bu.edu/writing.
February 8, 2010 at 5:17 pm
The latest Marist Poll shows 57 percent of independent voters don't approve of President Obama's job performance -- up from 44 pecent in early December. Political Science Professor Graham Wilson, author of "Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective," says it's ironic a great campaigner like Oama is losing his communications touch.
"His health care proposals scare people, although very moderate compared with many options, and he’s not getting credit for stopping the disintegration of the economy he inherited. Part of the new strategy for the administration has to be correcting this."
Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2450, gkwilson@bu.edu
February 8, 2010 at 10:20 am
The troubles for Toyota keep mounting with a recall of 311,000 of its 2010 Prius expected this week. BU College of Communication Professor and veteran PR reputation management expert Peter Morrissey offers his thoughts on the embattled car
maker:
"Toyota's reputation is its most valued asset. They are putting it at unacceptable high risk and they will pay dearly for this in the short and long run. They need to wrestle back control of the situation. Like putting toothpaste back in the tube - hard to do and very messy."
Contact Peter Morrissey, 617-353-1020, pmorriss@bu.edu
February 4, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke outlined a strategy to meet President Obama's goal of doubling U.S. exports over the next five years. It includes government advocacy for U.S. exporters globally, more export financing, and tough enforcement of existing trade agreements. International Relations Professor Kevin Gallagher, an authority on globalization and development, says it's going to take a lot more than that.
“The U.S. has fallen behind on research and development and support for industry, and our currency is not competitive. The only way to have a chance would be to revive U.S. industrial policy and get the Chinese to appreciate its currency well beyond the levels that the market would..."
Contact Kevin Gallagher, 617-353-9348, kpg@bu.edu
February 4, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Bank of America (and its then CEO and CFO) is being sued by New York's attorney general for securities fraud for misleading shareholders and the government about BofA's merger with Merrill Lynch. Law Professor Tamar Frankel, an authorities on securities law and legal ethics and author of "Trust and Honesty: America's Business Culture at a Crossroad," says this civil court trial should be enlightening.
“The value of the attorney general of New York's proceedings against Bank of America executives may be in the exposure of the way in which the managers of other people's money dealt with other people's money. We ought to know; they perhaps ought to understand."
Contact Tamar Frankel, 617-353-3773, tfrankel@bu.edu
February 4, 2010 at 6:00 am
Opening reception tonight at 6:00 PM at 855 Commonwealth Avenue; free and open to the public!
