UCSB Forecast Project gets new director

By COLBY FRAZIER — July 27, 2010

Peter Rupert, a former senior economic adviser for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland who is currently the vice-chair of UC Santa Barbara’s department of economics, will head up the school’s popular Economic Forecast Project, school officials announced.

In a news release, Rupert said he intends to turn what is now an annual economic forecasting event into a more interactive, and up-to-date, well of economic information.

“As the economy evolves in Santa Barbara, it will be good to get different perspectives,” he said in a prepared statement. He added later, “We’ll look at trends as they emerge. Our work will be broader than just an economic forecast.”

Stalwart economics enthusiasts can expect a Web site where Rupert said “frequently updated information, including commentary, on significant reports on the economy, housing, and other related issues …” will be available.

As these changes occur, the school’s entire forecasting project, which has historically covered Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties, will be pared back to focus solely on Santa Barbara County, school officials said.

“The change is the result of a combination of campus budget cuts and declining sponsorship revenues,” said Eric Sonquist, finance officer for the UC Santa Barbara Foundation, who has administered the forecast project for the past year.

Rupert helped preside over this year’s economic forecast event, where he told the audience he remained pessimistic about the prospects of a brisk recovery from the nagging recession.

In addition to offering annual reports across the county, the forecast project provides its services on a contract basis to organizations across the Central Coast.

Rupert joined the faculty at UCSB in 2007. Prior to his 13-year stint in Cleveland, he held teaching positions at the University of Western Ontario, State University of New York at Buffalo, and West Virginia University.

We are delighted that one of our distinguished professors of economics has taken on the responsibility for this important program,” said UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang. “Professor Peter Rupert’s visionary leadership together with his outstanding background and economic insights will be great assets for this program and our community.”

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: 7/27/2010

Cleveland? Why do we never hire Californians for high-end jobs?

Stop the East Coast Takeover

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