Small symposium, big impact: Shidler College’s inaugural finance symposium
Event an extraordinary success as top-notch researchers come together
The Shidler College of Business (Shidler College) recently hosted its inaugural Innovations in Financial Intermediation Symposium (IFIS), a finance conference marking a significant milestone for the college. This gathering was held on June 27 and was strategically timed to coincide with the Western Finance Association (WFA) Conference, one of the most elite conferences in academic finance, which occurred in Honolulu from June 28-30, 2024.
The idea for IFIS originated within the Finance Department, as faculty members sought to capitalize on the presence of esteemed researchers attending the WFA Conference. “With the WFA bringing so many renowned experts to Honolulu, we saw a unique opportunity to organize a smaller, focused event,” Jiakai Chen, First Hawaiian Bank Distinguished Associate Professor of Banking, said.
Professor Qianqiu Liu, the Finance Department chair and distinguished professor of finance, oversaw the event while collaborating with Chen. The conference was sponsored and co-hosted by Shidler College and Circle Internet Financial, a company that manages USDC, the second-largest stablecoin worldwide.
The symposium focused on financial intermediation, particularly the burgeoning field of cryptocurrency. It attracted 21 participants from around the world, including representatives from prestigious institutions such as the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley; the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Copenhagen Business School; the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Sloan School of Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Columbia University; Harvard University; and the University of Chicago.
Conference participants joined from esteemed institutions.
“We personally invited leading researchers in the banking area,” said Chen. “We started by discussing the idea of running a symposium among economists in the New York Fed, which I visited in the Spring semester. The word spread out within the network of researchers, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.”
The quality of presentations was a highlight of the symposium. “We hosted some of the most active researchers in financial intermediation and blockchain,” Liu reflected. “The intimate setting allowed for deep dives into each topic and facilitated meaningful networking.”
Shidler College Dean Vance Roley commenced the symposium with his opening remarks. "This inaugural Innovations in Financial Intermediation Symposium has proven to be a remarkable success,” he said. “I deeply appreciated the closely-knit meeting environment among high-quality researchers, which facilitated intense and fruitful discussions."
The event featured a comprehensive schedule of sessions and presentations, including topics such as technology and financial intermediation, stablecoins and financial stability, and blockchain and smart contracts. Christine A. Parlour, Sylvan C. Coleman Chair of Finance and Accounting at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, served as the keynote speaker.
Given the symposium’s success, Liu and Chen are optimistic about its future. “We hope to continue this event,” Liu shared. “Our goal is to maintain a focused, high-quality gathering that attracts top researchers.”
The first finance symposium at Shidler College has set a high standard for future events. With plans to expand and diversify topics, the college aims to establish a lasting tradition of high-caliber academic gatherings. “This symposium has energized our community and highlighted our commitment to advancing finance research,” Liu said.
