Hot Topics Lecture December 2024

The School of Economics and Finance welcomes you to the annual 2024 SEF Hot Topics Lecture event. We will be joined by Dr. Vimal Balasubramaniam (School of Economics and Finance) and Dr. Sofia Anyfantaki (Bank of Greece) to explore the topic, “Financial Literacy: How Important Is It for Financial Markets?”

The event will take place on Monday December 2, 2024, from 13:00 to 14:30 UK time at the Montagu Lecture Theatre (GC601), which is located in the Graduate Centre at Queen Mary University of London. It will also be accessible online for remote attendees.

We are honored to begin the event with opening remarks by Professor George Skiadopoulos, Academic Organiser, and Professor Alp Atakan, Head of the School of Economics and Finance.

Meet the Speakers: Lecture Highlights and Biographies

Dr. Vimal Balasubramaniam

Financial Literacy: Is it necessary or sufficient in consumer financial markets?

The idea that financial literacy significantly changes individual behaviour is true.
But is that sufficient for better functioning consumer financial markets?
In this talk I will argue that this may not necessarily be true.
I conclude by suggesting that better consumer financial regulation is required for truly welfare improving outcomes.

Bio:

Vimal Balasubramaniam is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Economics and Finance, Queen Mary University of London, where he is also the Director of the MSc Investment & Finance Programme. He completed his PhD in Financial Economics from the University of Oxford. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the National University of Singapore, and a BA in Economics from the University of Madras. His teaching expertise lay in asset pricing, behavioural finance, household finance, applied econometrics, and big data analytics and has taught several courses in these areas at Queen Mary, and before that, at the University of Warwick and the University of Oxford. His research interests span the same areas as those of his teaching, and a more extensive biography can be found on his website here: www.vimalb.com

Dr. Sofia Anyfantaki

Why do regulators and supervisors care about financial literacy today?

We are nowadays experiencing unprecedented parallel challenges at a global scale
How can go from financial inclusion to financial health?
In this talk, I will argue that while regulation and institutions are indispensable for financial stability, it is also about empowering individuals
In this context, financial literacy emerges as a fundamental skill for all citizens

Bio:

Sofia Anyfantaki is a Research Economist at the Economic Analysis and Research Department of the Bank of Greece. Previously, she worked as an Economist at the Hellenic Competition Commission, as a post-doctoral researcher at the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and as a Visiting Professor in various positions. Sofia holds a PhD in Econometrics from AUEB. Her research interests are in econometric theory, financial econometrics and empirical finance and she has published in scientific journals in these areas. Sofia has published a number of policy articles on digital transformation, productivity, climate change and financial literacy while she is actively involved as a member in Eurosystem expert groups and international research networks shaping academic discourse and policy discussions. Her research on industrial policy in Greece was granted the Hellenic Observatory, LSE, 2020 Research Calls Programme. Sofia has also worked as a post-doc researcher at Cyprus University of Technology for EU funded projects on digital financial literacy. Sofia is a (non-regular) member of the Scientific Advisory Commitment of the Cyprus Financial Literacy and Education Committee while she has also worked for the Ad Hoc Committee for the formulation of the National Strategy.

Date: 2 December

Time: 13:00-14:30pm

Venue: Montagu Lecture Theatre (GC601) and Online