Area business leaders and the community are invited to attend the IU Business Outlook Tour from 7-9 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, at Indiana University East in Whitewater Hall. The IU Business Outlook Tour is presented by the IU East Alumni Association and the IU East School of Business and Economics.

The event will begin with a networking breakfast at 7 a.m. followed by the program at 8 a.m. in Vivian Auditorium.

More than five years after the Great Recession ended, the pace of the nation’s recovery is accelerating, yet challenges still remain. In their annual forecast tour of the state, economists at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business will report what lies ahead for Indiana and the nation as Hoosiers look ahead to 2015.

Since 1972, the Kelley School of Business has presented its national, state and local forecasts through a series of presentations in cities throughout Indiana.

The starting point for the forecast is an econometric model of the United States, developed by IU’s Center for Econometric Model Research, involving hundreds of statistical equations to develop a national forecast for the coming year. A similar econometric model of Indiana provides a corresponding forecast for the state and metro-area economies, based on the national forecast and data specific to Indiana. The Business Outlook panel then adjusts the forecasts to reflect additional insights the panelists have on the economic situation.

At each presentation, the panel features faculty members from the Kelley School and IU, plus local panelists from other IU campuses and other universities, offering perspectives on the global, national, state and local economies and financial markets.

This year’s panel includes:

• David Frantz, Dean of the School of Business and Economics – IU East (Moderator)
• Douglas McCoy, Director of the Benecki Center for Real Estate Studies
• Timothy Slaper, Director of Economic Analysis, Indiana Business Research Center
• Bill Witte, Associate Professor Emeritus of Economics
• Litao Zhong, Assistant Professor of Economics and Finance; Director of the Business and Economic Research Center – IU East

Reservations to attend the event are online at eventbrite.com/e/iu-business-outlook-panel. The cost is $15 per person and includes breakfast. Event proceeds benefit the IU East Alumni Association Scholarship Fund and will assist students in the School of Business and Economics.

For more information, contact Terry Wiesehan, director of Alumni Relations and Campus Events, at (765) 973-8221 or  twiesaha@iue.edu.