Two economists to discuss 2013, and look ahead to 2014

Two economists will look back on 2013 and predict what's ahead economically for 2014 during a live radio taping for Minnesota Public Radio at noon Thursday, Dec. 19 at the Lecture Hall (room 102), Saint John's University Art Center, Collegeville.

"MPR News Presents: A Year-End Look at the Economy" will feature Louis Johnston, associate professor of economics at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University who holds the Joseph P. Farry Professorship at SJU, and Chris Farrell, MPR's economics correspondent. The discussion will be hosted by MPR Editor at Large Gary Eichten.

"Chris and I will look at the economic scene from state, national and international perspectives," Johnston said. "Gary Eichten and audience members will ask questions that will push us to talk about where we've been, where we are and where we're likely going."

Johnston writes a twice-monthly column on economics called Macro, Micro, Minnesota for MinnPost.com, reporting on economic developments in the news and what those developments mean to Minnesota. He is a frequent contributor on economic issues on MPR and WCCO Radio.

Johnston, who has taught at CSB and SJU since 1997, specializes in macroeconomics and economic history.

Farrell is economics editor of "Marketplace Money," a nationally syndicated one-hour personal finance show produced by American Public Media. He is also an economics correspondent for "Marketplace," the largest business program in broadcasting and chief economics correspondent for American RadioWorks.

The award-winning journalist and author of two books, Farrell is a graduate of Stanford University and the London School of Economics.

Eichten, an award-winning broadcaster who hosted the "Midday" program on MPR for over 20 years before retiring from that position in January 2012, is a 1969 graduate of SJU. Eichten began his career at MPR as a student announcer at KSJR in Collegeville (MPR's first station).

The taping, which is free and open to the public, will be broadcast in its entirety at a later date on MPR.

The event is sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at Saint John's University, serving the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.