This event is part of the Thursday Morning Lecture Series on Our Changing Economic Landscape.

Cryptocurrency is often in the news lately, yet its effects on the U.S. economy are complicated. After a brief introduction of cryptocurrency from a technology perspective, we will explore its role as an investment and/or a currency, and its potential effects on productivity and economic growth in the U.S. and globally.

Further, we will understand why it has been used to pay ransom related to cyber-hacking, and its environmental impacts due to its use of high levels of processing power. How should financial regulation policy address cryptocurrency in the U.S. going forward?

Our speaker, Robert (Bob) Dittmar is a Professor of Finance at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business, the Faculty co-Director of the Ross Fintech Initiative, and the Faculty Director of the Tozzi Finance Center.

His research focuses on empirical determinants of financial security prices, including equities, fixed income securities, and derivatives. His work has been published in the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies, and Journal of Econometrics.

Professor Dittmar received his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000, and previously taught at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. He has taught courses at Ross in Fintech, Asset Management, Fixed Income Securities, and Options and Derivatives at the BBA, MBA, and Ph.D. level.

Pre-registration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the lecture will be e-mailed shortly before the date of the event.