Belgrade - May 21st

 

Enough is enough - consolidation of public budgets a priority

The disastrous consequences of pushing public debt too far!

 

Registration:	9:30 - 10:00

 

Venue:                         Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade

Panel 1:	Values worth fighting for
Time:	10:00 - 11:10

This year we want to focus on the role of the state: what do we expect from the state? What preconditions need to be fulfilled? Accountability of the state? What if Greece goes bankrupt? Morals and markets; trust in markets and confidence as factors responsible for economic growth? Social responsibility – economics is not enough.

           

Welcome & Introduction:	H.E. Clemens Koja, Austrian Ambassador
Chair:	Barbara Kolm, Hayek Institut
Keynote:	Deirde McCloskey, University of Illinois/Chicago
Podium:	Danica Popovic, Faculty of Economics
	Manfred Kastner, C.A.T.Oil AG
	Roland Heidner, CFO, vip mobile
	Sinisa Zaric, Faculty of Economics

                       

           

                       

Panel 2:	How to finance the state?
Time:	11:10 - 12:10

 

How does the state finance its debts? Where is there room for reform? Government issued bonds are no longer viewed as being without risk. Is there too much borrowing? Will the market for government bonds and other debt instruments become over-saturated with the continual new issues? Who will buy these securities at that point? Will governments be able to pay off this debt, and will people believe that they can? What are the most effective ways of reforming or controlling the level of public debt?

Chair:	Journalist
Keynote:	Dan Mitchell, CATO
Podium:	Vuk Djokovic, State Secretary, Ministry of Finance
	Aleksandar Stevanovic, Associate of the Free Market Center
	Michael Jäger, Taxpayers Association of Europe

                       

 

Break:                          12:10 - 12:25 (Coffee/Snacks and Networking)

Panel 3:	Solutions and best-practices
Time:	12:25 - 12:35

 

Solutions to the need of financing “public” tasks. Technical questions and successful reform solutions. Does the problem lie mainly in the methods of spending or the methods of revenue collection? How can a government balance their budgets, thereby reducing debt levels? Is the current financial crisis an excuse for deficit spending? What are some possible reforms to the tax system, such as a flat tax? What targets of spending can be reformed, such as pension programs or health care? Discussion on several possible reform solutions.

Chair:	Slavisa Tasic
Keynote:	David Pistrui, Austrian Economics Center, Illinois Institute of Technology
Podium:	Milica Bisic, Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration
	Ljubomir Madzar
	Igor Loncarevic, Tax Committee Chairman, Am Cham
	Kelsey Zahourek, Property Rights Alliance

                       

 

Closing

Remarks:                     13:25 - 13:30    (followed by drinks)

 

Press Conference:      13:45 - 14:15