News and Announcements

Townsend Presents at Luohan Academy's "Technology and New Finance in the Digital Era"
May 28, 2021

Digitalization is disrupting financial systems, especially by transforming the relationship between finance and real economy, between financial institutions and fintech companies, as well as the general financial intermediary system and regulatory systems. 

On May 25, 2021, the Luohan Academy hosted leading thinkers from around the world for an exploration of digital disruption in financial systems. The by-invitation event covered an ambitious range of topics: blockchain and payments, digital footprints and access to credit, banks versus fintech versus big tech, the power of platforms, financial inclusion, technological leapfrogging in emerging markets, data protection, and the role of regulation, among other topics.

Read more and view the video.
Townsend named to Minneapolis Fed's 2021-22 class of Visiting Scholars
April 29, 2021

The Minneapolis Fed announced a new cohort of 21 visiting scholars selected to conduct research while in residence at the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute.

“The Visiting Scholar Program is a vital channel for bringing new ideas and insights into the Institute’s work and, by extension, the Fed System,” said Institute Director Abigail Wozniak. “Given the ongoing pandemic and related economic uncertainty, it is critical that we continue our work to understand how to enhance economic opportunity and well-being for all. Institute scholars play a key role in that effort.”

This class of academics was selected because their research contributes to understanding how to increase economic opportunity for all Americans. Collectively, the scholars use a variety of empirical methods and theoretical perspectives to answer research questions.

"We are excited about this new cohort,” said Assistant Director of Inequality Research Alessandra Fogli. “Each scholar is a leader in their field, and their broad interests bring diversity to our research agenda.”

(Read more.)