Students Visit the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

20/04/2009

Dr. Wolfgang Decker's International Political Economy class (INR455) recently paid a visit to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD, 'the Bank;'), a major regional and multi-lateral development bank. The EBRD was established in 1991 when communism was crumbling in central and eastern Europe and ex-soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. Today the EBRD uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in countries from central Europe to central Asia, and is the largest single investor in Eastern Europe.

Students listened to presentations given by members of the EBRD's Board of Directors. Kenneth Peel (U.S.A. Executive Director), Laszlo Andor (Czech Republic/Croatia Executive Director), and Jan Willem van den Wall Bake (The Netherlands Executive Director) discussed topics ranging from the Bank's mission to comparing the EBRD to other major international economic institutions (such as the World Bank) to how the Bank's role has changed in the current global financial crisis. A vigorous Q&A session followed; and a tour of the EBRD's board room was given by the Deputy Secretary General of the EBRD, Nigel Carter.

Upon Dr. Decker's planned absence, Dr. Michael Keating kindly attended the EBRD visit along with the class. Dr. Keating specializes in development studies and currently teaches PLT 314 - Politics of Development and Environment. Chris Leiter, a current Richmond student and intern with the U.S. Executive Director's Office at the EBRD, arranged the visit.

Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/n/746.aspx