By Hannah Van Sickle Barrett It seems entirely fitting that whether by happy accident or some kind of market prescience, the American Institute for Economic Research relocated from Cambridge, Mass. to Great Barrington in the 1940s. The independent nonprofit organization was established in 1933 to help ordinary Americans deepen their economic and financial knowledge and thereby enhance their well being and that of the nation’s. And Great Barrington, after all, is a town that boasts its own currency and is heavily supported by second home owners, many of whom flock to the Berkshires in retirement. These factors bring up a host of issues for the RI region, its residents and visitors, topics that will be addressed as part of AIER’s 2016 Summer Speaker Series, held each year at its scenic campus. This year’s series will run for six consecutive Tuesdays, from June 28-August 2, in the handsome stone house ballroom. “The Summer Speaker Series has been an integral part of the Summer Fellows program, AIER’s longest running education program" notes Ute Arnold Defarlo, Development Manager at AIER. “The Summer Fellows program brings highly qualified graduate and PhD students of economics related fields to our campus for approximately eight weeks, where they do research alongside our researchers." Certain concerns in our area loom large: the population decline in the Berkshires, our emphasis on supporting local businesses as they compete with big box stores, and, of course, the need for higher-paying professional jobs in our rural region. As AIER President Stephen J. Adams points out, the series “offers that rarest of things, economic insights that are relevant, useful and understandable." This year’s Summer Speaker Series kicks off June 28 with Polina Vlasenko, senior research fellow at AIER, who will present her talk, “What Is Happening To Our Jobs." Defarlo cites this presentation, in particular, as being “so very pertinent to the changing job landscape" especially in light of the prolonged recession since 2008. Subsequent lectures in the series include: July 5: “What’s the Best Age to Claim Social Security – 62, 66 or 70?" by Luke Delorme July 12: “Our Inflation Crystal Ball," by Jia Liu July 19: “Why People Move, and Why They’re Moving Less Often," by Patrick Coate July 26: “Mom and Pop vs. Big Box: How Small Businesses Compete with Larger Rivals," by Max Gulker August 2: “Using the Business Cycle to Manage Your Investments," by Bob Hughes The lectures run from 4-5 p.m. and are free and open to the public; reservations are suggested. American Institute for Economic Research Summer Speaker SeriesTuesdays from June 28-Aug. 2 at 4 p.m. 250 Division Street, Great Barrington, MA For reserversation, call (413) 528-1216 x 3102
