PRESS RELEASE
UCLA AEF Chair in Armenian History
Contact: Prof. Richard Hovannisian
Tel: 310-825-3375
Email: [email protected]
UCLA CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA
(MAY 6, 2006)
Los Angeles-`Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development’ is the theme
of an international conference to be held at the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA), on Saturday, May 6, from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. in the
Court of Sciences 50 (Young Hall). The conference featuring specialists in
economics, finance, and governance is dedicated to UCLA Professor Emeritus
of Economics, Armen A. Alchian, a world-renowned economist and teacher who
was born in Fresno in 1914 and joined the UCLA faculty in 1946.
The conference is organized by the Armenian Educational
Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA and the Armenian
International Policy Research Group (AIPRG), with support from the UCLA Von
Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies and the Department of Economics.
AEF Chair Holder Richard Hovannisian will open the morning session with
introductory comments on `The Economic Factor,’ followed by the
presentation of Professor Alchian and his contributions to economic theory
by a similarly distinguished Professor of Economics, Harold Demsetz.
Enrique Gelband, Deputy Division Chief and former Mission Chief
to Armenia of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will give the keynote
address on `Growth and Poverty Reduction in Armenia: Achievements and
Challenges,’ the title of his recent book published by the IMF. A panel
discussion on the subject will be moderated by UCLA Professor of Economics
Michael Intriligator and include William Ascher, McKenna Professor of
Government and Economics at Claremont McKenna College; Daniel Mazmanian,
Director of the Judith and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the
Public Enterprise at the University of Southern California; and Ara
Khanjian, Professor of Economics at Ventura College.
The Saturday afternoon session moderated by Professor Lee
Ohanian of the UCLA Department of Economics focuses on specific topics
relating to Armenia’s economic development. David Grigorian of the IMF will
speak on `Tax Potential versus Tax Effort: Factors behind the Stubbornly
Low Tax Collection in Armenia’; Bryan Roberts of the Department of Homeland
Security, `Remittances, Poverty, and Growth in Armenia’; and Nerses
Yeritsyan, Central Bank of Armenia, `Financial Sector Development in
Armenia: Problems and Challenges.’ A discussion period will conclude the
afternoon session.
Richard Hovannisian stated: `I am pleased that after sixteen
wonderful semi-annual conferences on Historic Armenian Cities and
Provinces, we shifted the focus to contemporary issues in 2005 with `The
Enduring Legacy of the Armenian Genocide’ and `Three Turkish Voices on the
Armenian Question.’ Now, for the first conference of 2006, the economic and
fiscal challenges facing the Republic of Armenia will be addressed. I am
thankful to David Grigorian for arranging much of the program, especially
as Ascher, Khanjian, Roberts, Yeritsyan, and Grigorian are also associated
with AIPRG. The subject of this conference is of critical importance to
Armenia and all those concerned with the welfare of its people.’
The conference is open to the public and free of charge.
Parking is available in Structure 2 at the Hilgard and Westholme Avenue
entrance to UCLA, where a one-day parking permit ($8.00) may be obtained at
the parking kiosk. A map of the UCLA campus can be found at the web site:
<; /map/ or the UCLA Armenian Studies
web site at
For additional information, e-mail:
Richard Hovannisian:
<mailto:[email protected]& gt;[email protected]
or
David Grigorian: [email protected]
THE PROGRAM IS AS FOLLOWS:
Armenia: Challenges of Sustainable Development
Sponsored by the UCLA
Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History,
Department of Economics,
Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies,
and
Armenian International Policy Research Group (AIPRG)
In Honor of Professor Armen Alchian
Saturday, May 6, 2006
50 Court of Sciences, UCLA
9:30 A.M.-4:00 P.M.
9:30-10:00 Introduction
The Economic Factor
Richard G. Hovannisian, AEF Chair, UCLA
The Contributions of Armen Alchian to Economic Theory
Harold Demsetz, Department of Economics, UCLA
10:00-12:30 Growth and Poverty Reduction in Armenia: Achievements and
Challenges-IMF Book Presentation
Moderator: Michael Intriligator, Department of Economics, UCLA
Presenter: Enrique Gelbard, Deputy Division Chief, and former Mission Chief to
Armenia, International Monetary Fund
Discussants:
William Ascher, Donald C. McKenna Professor of Government and Economics,
Claremont McKenna College, and AIPRG Advisory Board
Daniel A. Mazmanian, Bedrosian Chair in Governance, and Director, Judith
and John Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise, School
of Policy, Planning, and Development, University of Southern California
Ara Khanjian, Department of Economics, Ventura College and AIPRG
12:30-1:30 PM
Lunch Recess
1:30-4:00 PM Selected Topics on Armenia’s Economic Development
Moderator: Lee Ohanian, Department of Economics, UCLA
Tax Potential vs. Tax Effort: Factors behind the Stubbornly Low Tax
Collection in Armenia
David Grigorian, International Monetary Fund and AIPRG
Remittances, Poverty, and Growth in Armenia
Bryan Roberts, Department of Homeland Security and AIPRG
Financial Sector Development in Armenia: Problems and Challenges
Nerses Yeritsyan, Central Bank of Armenia and AIPRG