Experts to explore possible solutions for economic hotspots at Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Lacey - A line-up of experts in fields
relating to the health and vitality of the Northwest economy will gather
May 19-21 to explore how best to aid regional economic recovery from the
collapse and structural weaknesses in key industries at this year’s
Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference. The conference will be
at Tacoma’s Sheraton Hotel.
The 38th annual conference, whose theme
this year is “New Formulas and Partnerships Emerging,” will also
concentrate on economic factors affecting the region, including
unemployment rates, state and local budget shortages and increasing
international competition, said economist and educator Riley Moore,
Ph.D., conference chairman.
Keynote speakers for the event will be:
- Author Josh Farley, Ph.D., of
the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, University of Vermont, who
will deliver the conference’s May 19 opening speech, “Beyond the
Economics of Fish and Timber: Ecosystem Services, Information and the
Tragedy of the Non-Commons.”
- Washington State University Professor
Emeritus Desmond O'Rourke, president of Belrose Inc., an
agricultural consulting firm, who will deliver the May 19 noon address,
“Playing the Ag Survivors Game: Will the Pacific Northwest Be Voted off
the Island.”
- Bill Gates Sr., chairman of the
Washington State Tax Structure Committee. Gates is a founding partner of
Preston Gates & Ellis and has
served as president of both the Seattle/King County Bar Association and
the Washington State Bar Association. Gates’ speech, on May 20, will be
"An Evaluation of Washington's Tax Structure."
- David Wyss, chief economist at
Standard & Poor’s, based in New York. Wyss is responsible for the
company’s economic forecasts and publications, and co-authors the
monthly Equity Insight and the weekly Financial Notes. He also manages
research projects, especially in financial risk. His speech, also on May
20, is "End of the Recession, But When Will Jobs Come?"
- Geoffrey Hewing, director of the
Regional Economics Applications Laboratory; professor of economics and
geography and urban and regional planning, University of Illinois.
Hewing’s May 21 speech will be “Trade and Economic Security: A Spatial
Perspective.”
A series of panel discussions on issues
ranging from health care and electricity crisis response to port and
border security and water management will be held throughout the
three-day event.
Conference sponsors are the Northwest
Power and Conservation Council; Mundy Associates; Stimson Lane Vineyards
and Estates; Saint Martin's College; and Pacific Northwest Canadian
Studies.
The Pacific Northwest Regional Economic
Council is a non-profit organization that promotes research and
education on the economy of the Pacific Northwest states - Washington,
Oregon, Montana and Idaho - and the Canadian provinces of British
Columbia and Alberta. The conference brings together academic,
government and private-sector professionals to better understand the
region’s diverse economy.
For more information about the
conference, contact Moore at 360-438-4511;
rmoore@stmartin.edu. To see the
full conference program or register, visit the council’s website at
www.pnrec.org.
For more information:
Riley Moore, Ph.D.
Assistant professor, economics and finance
360-438-4511; rmoore@stmartin.edu
Deanna Partlow
Office of communication
360-438-4541; dpartlow@stmartin.edu