ECOBATE 2013
What is it about?
The special themes of the conference are ‘local banking’, on which Dr. Vince Cable will speak, and ‘sustainable money’. Attendees will learn why there are recurring banking crises, why small and medium-sized enterprises find it hard to obtain bank loans in the UK, how other countries, such as Germany, manage to deliver a steady supply of funding to small firms and thus generate stable growth and prosperity in local communities, and much more. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with leading thinkers and policy-makers.
Key sessions cover topics such as:
- How to end post-crisis recessions and increase growth and employment without further government expenditure.
- Local money flows – their benefits, how to encourage them and make them work for you.
- Financing the transition to a low-carbon economy and preventing destructive growth.
- A government funding model for public infrastructure that does not add debt.
Who is attending?
Interested members of the public, local business leaders, local government officers, policy activists, journalists, finance academics and economists, banking practitioners, central bankers, students of the economy, finance and business, think tank members, politicians. The conference is hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton, Prof. Don Nutbeam.
How can I register?
To attend the free part of the conference, please send an email with your name and address, noting that you will attend, to ecobate@soton.ac.uk. For the full-day ticket, including lunch and the ability to attend all sessions and submit a paper for consideration at the conference and in the special issue of IRFA, please register at http://store.southampton.ac.uk/ Business, Management and Law.
For questions, please contact the Event Manager, Ms Jo Hazell at J.L.Hazell@soton.ac.uk or telephone 023 8059 4858, or contact the Centre Team at cbfsd@soton.ac.uk.
Programme
Banking: From Global to Local
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
The European Conference on Banking and the Economy (ECOBATE 2013) at Winchester Guildhall
organised by the
Centre for Banking, Finance and Sustainable Development (CBFSD), University of Southampton
Featured Sessions
Reviving local banking in the UK: How local banks can help deliver sustainable economic growth
King Alfred Conference Chamber, 1.30-3.30pm
Why Local Banking?
Locally headquartered banks have the same interests as the local business community. Without local growth and investment, they cannot grow. Since local banks are small, they are not primarily interested in lending to large-scale financial speculators, which generates asset bubbles and banking crises. Instead, their lending tends to be aimed at local households and local firms that engage in productive activities.
Large banks are hardly interested in making small loans and have outsourced the credit analysis from the relationship with a local bank manager who knows their customers to an automated credit scoring model that makes remote decision – and often the wrong ones. When funding cannot be obtained, businesses fail or never start, and projects are put on hold. This also sets back efforts to decarbonise the economy.
In other countries, such as in Germany, the majority of banking relationships are still locally based. This is a key cause of the strength of the German SME sector. This public session will explore the case for reviving local banking in the UK and the benefits of localising money flows. It will explore the risks and benefits to local government of supporting local banks and the audience will hear of plans for a community bank in Hampshire.
Public Plenary: Do We Need More Radical Reform of the Monetary and Banking System?
Bapsy Hall, 3.40pm – 5.45pm
Alternative Approaches to Money and Banking
- Full reserve money as attractive alternative to our monetary system, Michael Kumhof, Deputy-Director, Modelling Division, International Monetary Fund
- How local banks contribute to local communities in Germany, Dr. Thomas Keidel, German Savings Banks Association
- Sustainable Banking – is this possible?, James Vaccaro, Triodos Bank NV
- Local banking solutions – it can be done, Liz Wilkinson, Executive Director, Finance, Bournemouth Bourough Council
Evening Public Plenary: Does the UK Need to Re-Introduce Local Banks?
Bapsy Hall, 5.55pm – 7.30pm
- The Roadmap for the UK Banking Industry – Back to Local Banks?, The Rt. Hon. Dr. Vince Cable, MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
- The Benefits of German Local Banking and its Future, Dr. Karl-Peter Schackmann-Fallis, Executive Board Member, German Savings Banks Association
- Local Banking and the Money Supply – Some Important But Neglected Facts, Prof. Richard Werner, Director, CBFSD, University of Southampton
Venue
The conference takes place at:
Guildhall Winchester
The Broadway
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 9GH
The Guildhall is a landmark building in the historic city centre of this ancient cathedral city and former capital of England.
Guildhall is close to the Cathedral, to shopping facilities and city amenities, including sightseeing spots such as King Alfred’s statue, Winchester College, Wolsey Castle, the City Museum, the City Mill and St. Giles’ Hill. Only a brief stroll up the High Street from the Guildhall, visitors will see the West Gate, one of the two remaining of the former five city gates. It has a viewing platform on top and a museum inside. Next to it is the site of the former royal castle, whose Great Hall has survived and features King Arthur’s Round Table. Winchester Cathedral is the burial site of many Saxon Kings and Bishops, as well as Jane Austen. Its library exhibits the Winchester Bible. As the former capital of Wessex and England, Winchester was the site of the Treasury as well as the Mint. Winchester maintains long-standing connections to the University of Southampton, whose School of Art is located here.
The Tourist Office is located inside the Guildhall, on the ground floor, and guided tours depart from there.
To access a map showing the venue location please click here.