Smith Brain Trust

April 26, 2023
Is Your Maryland Home At Risk for Damages from Climate Disasters?
Many Maryland homeowners are increasingly faced with the threat of costly home repairs from extreme weather events. With climate change, these events are becoming more frequent and more intense. And that could mean bigger problems for homeowners – particularly those who don’t have the extra cash to…
Read the article : Is Your Maryland Home At Risk for Damages from Climate Disasters?
April 20, 2023
Smith Experts React to Fed Recession Prediction

Federal Reserve economists predicting a mild recession as a result of the recent banking crisis

Read the article : Smith Experts React to Fed Recession Prediction
March 8, 2023
Toxic Train Derailment Vexing for Real Estate Industry
Health safety for residents following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has been a top concern. Has it really been safe enough to return – both for the short- and long-term?
Read the article : Toxic Train Derailment Vexing for Real Estate Industry
March 2, 2023
Navigating the Debt Ceiling
Treasury payments towards the interest on the debt represent the federal government’s largest spending increase so far this year. As the Wall Street Journal reports, it’s contributing to a deficit for the first four months of this fiscal year that has widened to $460 billion, up 78% from $259…
Read the article : Navigating the Debt Ceiling
March 2, 2023
The Rise in Four-figure Car Loan Payments Could Mean a Recession Is Coming

In the fourth quarter of last year, the number of Americans paying $1,000 a month or more for a vehicle hit a record high of 15.7%.

Read the article : The Rise in Four-figure Car Loan Payments Could Mean a Recession Is Coming
February 23, 2023
How to Bolster Climate Scenario Analysis
The Federal Reserve Board has engaged six of the biggest U.S. banks in a pilot Climate Scenario Analysis (CSA) to assess and “advance the ability of supervisors and banks to analyze and manage emerging climate-related financial risks.”
Read the article : How to Bolster Climate Scenario Analysis
February 23, 2023
Is South Africa Taking a Financial Risk by Conducting Naval Exercises with Russia?
“If I were advising, I would think that it would be unwise for South Africa to conduct this exercise, especially in the vicinity of the anniversary.” That’s University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business William E. Mayer Chair Professor of Finance, Lemma Senbet reacting to South Africa’s…
Read the article : Is South Africa Taking a Financial Risk by Conducting Naval Exercises with Russia?
January 26, 2023
A “Richcession” May Be Ahead
Wall Street Journal reporter Justin Lahart has coined the term “richcession” to explain what might happen should a recession occur this year. According to him, the well-heeled would take a bigger hit than usual, even if we manage to narrowly escape an economic downturn.
Read the article : A “Richcession” May Be Ahead
December 7, 2022
Risk Lessons from FTX
FTX postmortems have included Axios describing the cryptocurrency exchange as a “house of cards” comparable to Enron, Theranos, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Madoff Investment Securities. Plus, Moody’s writes the collapse “will radically transform the crypto ecosystem, further shaking trust and…
Read the article : Risk Lessons from FTX
October 27, 2022
‘Storm Clouds Over the World Economy’: Smith’s Lemma Senbet Discusses Implications for Africa
Voice of America tapped Smith’s Lemma W. Senbet to discuss the stakes for Africa at the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings where policymakers and industry leaders representing about 190 countries engaged on the state of the world economy.
Read the article : ‘Storm Clouds Over the World Economy’: Smith’s Lemma Senbet Discusses Implications for Africa