In the midst of the current financial turmoil, David Backus '75, the Heinz Riehl Professor of International Economics and Finance at New York University, sat down with NYC Program students to answer their economic questions.
During this informal conversation, Backus explored a wide range of topics, including Tim Geithner's plan to remove troubled assets from banks' balance sheets, the role of the dollar in international trade, the possible consequences of the stimulus plan, and whether gold makes sense as an investment.
Backus was eager to share his knowledge during this April 1 discussion over pizza. An NYU professor since 1990, he has also worked at the Minneapolis Fed, the University of British Columbia, and Queen's University. As a macroeconomist whose research interests include currencies and international capital markets, among other things, Backus is uniquely qualified to analyze the current financial turmoil.
