News Briefs

On April 24, former NABE Presidents Diane Swonk and Richard Berner will testify on the importance of funding economic statistics programs before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. Their testimony will be on behalf of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, its current programs, and its FY 2008 budget request to further develop and incorporate research and development into the national income and product accounts. Swonk, chief economist, Mesirow Financial, and Berner, chief U.S. economist, Morgan Stanley, will emphasize that the fiscal 2008 request is critical to maintaining accurate and timely measures of U.S. economic activity.

There’s still time to register for the Economic Statistics Seminar. In just two days, you’ll take away skills you can use the first day back in the office. Connect with valuable contacts in the federal data agencies, the Federal Reserve, and private firms, who will make presentations on how key data series can be used to track business cycles in your industry. Plus, through case studies, you’ll learn about the techniques used by other professionals from Air Products Company, Motorola, Macroeconomic Advisers, Wachovia Bank, Weyerhaeuser Company, and others.  See http://www.nabe.com/stats2007/ for complete seminar details, including program, registration, and hotel information—“Using Economic Statistics to Understand Business Cycles,” April 22-24, San Diego, Calif.

Watch for release of the next NABE Industry Survey on Monday, April 23.  Mark your calendar to join us at 11 a.m. EDT for a teleconference to discuss the results.  The survey will cover variables such as industry demand, employment, prices, spending, as well as the impacts of the mortgage defaults and business results relative to plan.

NABE elections are just around the corner and the 2007 NABE Nominating Committee seeks your recommendations for NABE president, vice president, directors, and fellows.  Current officers and directors can be found at: http://www.nabe.com/publib/nabebod.htm and current fellows can be found at: http://www.nabe.com/publib/fellow.htm.  The deadline for recommendations is Wednesday, April 30, and the election will be held in June-July. To make your recommendations use the online form at http://www.nabe.com/mem/2007rec.html

Join the Financial Roundtable’s May 30 teleconference with Glenn Hubbard, dean of the Columbia Business School and former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, on "Maintaining the Competitiveness of U.S. Capital Markets."  Roundtable Chair Richard DeKaser, chief economist, National City Corporation, will moderate. For more information on the teleconference and registration go to http://nabe.com/rt/fin/events.html.

Plan now to attend the popular Econometric Seminars with Oral Capps, Jr., professor at Texas A&M University. Supported by the NABE Foundation, the seminar’s schedule is set for August 20-23, "Econometrics for the Business Analyst" in Chicago, and October 15-18, "Advanced Statistical Techniques for Economic Forecasting” in Atlanta.  Register soon for savings.

The NABE Foundation has launched is annual appeal, asking members and supporters to come together to build on the foundation’s programs.  The NABE Foundation supports the education and enhancement of the profession through various charitable activities and educational opportunities.  For the business economist, this is the chance to give back to the profession that provides one’s livelihood.  For more information, visit the Foundation’s website.

Check out the teleconference on “We Call it Subprime for a Reason” in a NABE Podcast recorded March 16 featuring Douglas Duncan of the Mortgage Bankers Association, David Wyss of Standard & Poor's, and David Berson of Fannie Mae.