Annual Conference Minn-Econ

Minn-Econ 2022: It's a New World - the Changing Landscape of Inflation and Employment

Saturday, October 8   |   8:30am-12:30pm   |   Virtual   |   Free Registration  |  $50 Teacher Stipend  |  For Gr. 9-12 Educators


The Minnesota Council on Economic Education invites you to Minn-Econ 2022: It's a New World - the Changing Landscape of Inflation and Employment. Kick-off Economic Education Month by learning from leading experts about the hottest economic issues of the day: Inflation, Supply Chain Issues, and the Great Resignation. 


Questions about this or other events? Contact us at mcee@umn.edu 

Enjoy these photos from our past Conferences

Agenda

8:30 - 8:40 a.m.    Welcome

Presenter: Julie Bunn, MCEE Executive Director


8:40 - 8:45 a.m.    Educator of the Year K-5 Honoree Presentation

Introduction of Honoree: Colleen Gray, MCEE K-8 Education Director 

Honoree: Jackelyn Doyle, Riverview West Side School of Excellence 

8:45 - 9:40 a.m.    Inflation: Where’s the Inflation?

Presenter:  Antony Davies, Associate Professor of Economics, Duquesne University

Over the past century, the broad theme of our public policy has been one of ignoring constraints. Breaking free of the political constraints imposed by the Constitution enabled politicians to buy votes by promising both more spending and less taxes. Breaking free of the monetary constraints imposed by a gold standard enabled the Federal Reserve to finance deficits by printing money. For decades, economists have warned that, without these two constraints, we were destined for sustained and significant inflation. But, at least until recently, inflation was nowhere to be seen. Or was it?

9:40 - 10:35 a.m.    Supply Chain Issues: Managing disruption and navigating the impact of the economic changes

Presenter: Agapitos Papagapitos, Professor of Economics, University of St. Thomas 

Much has been written about the problems with the supply chain, both nationally and globally, following the pandemic.  Are supply chain imbalances a new phenomenon?  Are imbalances likely to linger and are they different this time around than what we have encountered in the past?  Are some sectors of the economy more susceptible than others to such disruptions?  What are policy makers doing about it and is it enough?  We will take a stab at sorting through some of these questions.

10:35 - 10:45 a.m.    Break


10:45 - 10:50 a.m.    Educator of the Year 6-8 Honoree Presentation

Introduction of Honoree: Colleen Gray, MCEE K-8 Education Director 

Honoree: Krysten Dane, Glencoe-Silver Lake Junior Senior High School

10:50 - 11:45 a.m.    Great Resignation: Resigning greatly, quitting quietly, returning soon? Labor supply post-pandemic 

Presenter: King Banian, Dean of Public Affairs, St. Cloud State University

Minnesota labor force statistics show that the number of people either working or looking for work in August stands 79,543 below where it was before the pandemic. The monthly rate at which workers are quitting jobs has risen in that same time by a third, to 2.4% of all workers per month. Some ascribe this to people resigning, while others claim workers are engaged in ‘quiet quitting’. What do these terms mean? More importantly, when will quitting return to normal levels and what does that mean for the Minnesota economy? 

11:45 - 12:15 p.m.    Presenter Panel

Moderator: Kris Bertelsen, MCEE 9-12 Education Director


12:15 - 12:20 p.m.    Educator of the Year 9-12 Honoree Presentation

Introduction of Honoree: Kris Bertelsen, MCEE 9-12 Education Director

Honoree: Craig Geyen, Monticello High School


12:20 - 12:30 p.m.    Closing