Canceled – Acting in the Face of Uncertainty: A Conversation with Former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King

EVENT CANCELED

As the global health situation involving the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, the Becker Friedman Institute, with guidance from the University of Chicago’s Office of the Provost, has decided that the best course of action is to cancel this event. We recognize that this decision comes at a cost in terms of foregone opportunities to discuss research and engage in productive academic conversations, but the public health risks raised by the coronavirus outbreak and the safety of our visitors and staff are our top priority.

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Most economic evidence involves some level of uncertainty. Some uncertainties are resolvable but in the case of radical uncertainty, historical data provide no useful guidance to future outcomes and accurate forecasting is not possible. In 2000, for example, no one could have predicted the introduction of the smartphone and how many would be sold in 2020. And policymakers have repeatedly pointed to uncertainty as a key factor in the Great Recession and the slow recovery.

Join former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King as he shares insights from his new book, Radical Uncertainty. King will be joined by UChicago Booth Professor Anil Kashyap to discuss the real-world implications of radical uncertainty on policy and business decision-making around the world. Some of the topics they will discuss will include what can we expect from post-Brexit Britain? How will the coronavirus epidemic impact the global economy? How should we  manage uncertainties? The Chicago Tribune’s Gail MarksJarvis will moderate the conversation and direct a question and answer session with the audience.