Clark Center Forum

About the Clark Center Forum

The Forum for the Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets is home to the European, Finance, and US Economic Experts Panels as well as a repository of thoughtful, current, and reliable information regarding topics of the day.
Europe

Constraints on Innovation in Europe

Question A:

Current enforcement of competition policy in Europe is not working to promote innovation and growth.

Responses

© 2025. Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets.
15%
4%
2%
13%
28%
35%
2%
Question B:

European Union bureaucracy and regulations are a substantial constraint on innovation in Europe.

Responses

© 2025. Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets.
15%
4%
0%
7%
22%
35%
17%
Question C:

The conduct of the dominant US tech companies in European markets (including lobbying and acquisition of start-ups and competitors) is a substantial constraint on innovation in Europe.

Responses

© 2025. Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets.
15%
2%
0%
9%
41%
30%
2%
 
Finance

Cryptocurrency

Question A:

A bitcoin's value derives from the belief that others will want to use it, which implies that its purchasing power is likely to fluctuate over time to a degree that will limit its usefulness.

Responses

© 2025. Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets.
10%
3%
0%
0%
10%
54%
23%
Question B:

A substantial source of the value of unbacked decentralized private cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, arises from their convenience for use in illegal activities.

Responses

© 2025. Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets.
10%
3%
0%
3%
21%
44%
21%
Question C:

A properly diversified portfolio should include crypto assets.

Responses

© 2025. Kent A. Clark Center for Global Markets.
10%
0%
15%
44%
15%
15%
0%
 
Articles

WSJ: Voters Love the Policies that Economists Love to Hate

The Wall Street Journal polled voters’ attitudes on the presidential candidates’ economic policies . They then, in collaboration with the Clark Center, surveyed the Clark Center’s US Experts Panel.  The article is available here (subscription required).  The summary results of the US Experts Panels survey is below. View US Panel results of the survey >> 
On Global Markets

How Far? How Fast?

Federal Reserve meetings are rarely, outside of an immediate crisis, especially tense for market participants. Whilst On Global Markets has noted – more than once – that the market implied path of policy rates is rarely a useful guide to actual police outcomes over the medium to longer term, investors usually have a good handle […] 
Finance

Trends in Banking

This Finance survey examines (a) The trend of consolidation in the US banking sector will lead to fewer, but more profitable, mega-banks with over $250 billion in assets dominating the market; (b) The current liquidity and capital regulations are inadequate to address run risks of banks in a digital era 
FT-Booth US Macroeconomists Survey

FTxBooth: US headed for soft landing?

This installment of the FTxBooth US Macroeconomists Survey examines a likely soft landing for the US economy. The summary results are below and you can read the Financial Times article here, subscription required. View the results of this survey >> For social media: Please use the hashtag #FTxBooth when referring to the FT-Booth US Macroeconomists […] 
Finance

ESG, Shareholders, and Regulation

This Finance survey examines (a) Concerns about the environmental impact of companies are substantially better resolved by shareholder activism towards management than by regulations or government intervention; (b) Concerns about diversity, equality and inclusion within companies are substantially better resolved by shareholder activism towards management than by regulations or government intervention 
Finance

Private Credit

This Finance survey examines (a) The large increase in the market for private credit as a substitute for bank finance substantially reduces systemic risk; (b) The growth in private credit is substantially higher because of regulations that disincentivize banks from lending to below investment grade private businesses

  
Europe

Corporate Social Responsibility

This European survey examines (a)  In pursuing social and environmental initiatives, the average public company generates more benefits than costs in terms of profits, (b) In pursuing social and environmental initiatives, public companies would benefit from a measurably lower cost of capital, (c) There are substantial social benefits when managers of public companies make choices that account for the impact of their decisions on customers, employees, and community members beyond the effects on shareholders 

Topics

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