Current Issues in Economics
Schedule: Fridays, October 30-November 13, 2009; 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Location: Trilogy at Redmond Ridge, Redmond (see maps)
Reg. # 105338

Course Description

The course covers basic concepts and current issues about economics, providing you with insights useful for understanding current economic issues. World poverty, globalization, the environment, housing prices and money are subjects shrouded in myths, misconceptions and misapprehensions. Yet all are critically important to you, your children and grandchildren. You will discover why a Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for pioneering micro-lending, and why you are OK if you join a demonstration for more open space or lower housing costs, but conflicted if you join both demonstrations. The three sessions will focus on areas related to basic economic principles, globalization, and the economics of banking. Some topics will include the law of supply and demand, opportunity costs; world poverty; micro-lending, and international trade.

Instructor

Bob Richards
Richards is a member and former Chairman of the Visiting Committee of the Department of Economics of the University of Washington and was the 1999 Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Washington Department of Economics. He served as Assistant Professor of Economics at Whitman College and on the adjunct faculty of Pacific Lutheran University. Mr. Richards has a BA in economics from the University of Washington and an MBA in business economics from the Graduate School of Business of Stanford University. He had a career as an economist and banker. In 1988 he was a founder of The Commerce Bancorporation in Seattle, serving as president and chief executive officer until his retirement in 1998. He then authored a book, God and Business: Christianity's Case for Capitalism. He currently serves on the Investment Committee of Global Partnerships which places funds into micro-finance institutions in Latin America.