Library to Host Presentation on St. Cloud Economy

Three prominent local economists will speak at the St. Cloud Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., about “St. Cloud’s Economy: Past, Present and Future.” The meeting is open to the public and will take place in the library’s Bremer Community Room.
The presenters are King Banaian, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Economics at St. Cloud State University; Louis Johnston, Ph.D., associate professor of economics at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University; and Rich MacDonald, Ph.D., assistant director of the Center for Economic Education at St. Cloud State University.
Their presentation will describe the economy of the St. Cloud area, including a brief history, a description of the economy’s performance in 2009, and thoughts on how the economy is likely to fare in the future.
Each of the presenters is an expert in his own right. Banaian is co-editor of “The Design and Use of Political Economy Indicators” and co-author (with MacDonald) of the St. Cloud Area Quarterly Business Report. Johnston is a special contributor of macroeconomics content to “Principles of Economics” by Robert H. Frank and Ben S. Bernanke (2009), and is a regular guest on Minnesota Public Radio’s Midday program. MacDonald has served on national committees setting education standards in economics and social studies and serves as senior advisor for program development at the Council for Economic Education, a nationwide network promoting economic literacy in K-12 schools.