Two economists to look back at 2019, ahead to 2020
November 26, 2019
Two economists will take a year-end look at the economy at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Saint John’s Art Center Auditorium (room 102).
Louis Johnston, professor of economics at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, and Chris Farrell, Minnesota Public Radio’s senior economic contributor, will look back at 2019 and discuss issues that will come into play in 2020.
The discussion, which is free and open to the public, will be moderated by Gary Eichten ’69, Minnesota Public Radio editor-at-large.
Among the topics to be discussed will be the ongoing trade war with China and election-year economic issues such as the costs of health care and college, tax cuts and local economic issues.
Farrell is the senior economics contributor at Marketplace, American Public Media’s nationally syndicated public radio business and economic program. He hosts the series “Conversations on the Creative Economy,” and is a columnist for PBS’ “Next Avenue” and the Minneapolis Star Tribune newspaper.
A graduate of Stanford University and the London School of Economics, Farrell has published five books on personal finance and the economy. Including his most recent effort, “Purpose and a Paycheck: Finding Meaning, Money and Happiness in the Second Half of Life.”
His articles on the economy, personal finance and retirement have appeared in Bloomberg Businessweek, the New York Times, Kiplinger’s and other publications.
Johnston specializes in macroeconomics, economic history and the connections between economic policy and economic history. His most recent projects focus on analyzing the evolution of Minnesota’s economy and how Minnesota became “above average” since World War II.
The holder of economic degrees from the University of Minnesota and the University of California, Berkeley, Johnston writes a regular column on economics and the economy for MinnPost and is a regular guest on Minnesota Public Radio, WCCO Radio and Twin Cities Public Television.
He has been interviewed and quoted by the Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Bloomberg News, Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Marketplace, CNN, Minnesota News Network and other media.
Eichten is an award-winning broadcaster who hosted the "Midday" program on MPR for over 20 years before retiring in January 2012. Eichten began his career at MPR as a student announcer at KSJR in Collegeville (MPR's first station).
The event is sponsored by the Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at Saint John's University, serving CSB and SJU.