“Doomsday” Warning – Despite Buoyant Markets, A Storm Is Coming

Economist, and “What’s Next in B2B Payments?” keynote speaker, Nouriel Roubini correctly identified the financial crisis of 2008 well before it was a frightening reality. Now, seven years later, global markets have rebounded and are more buoyant than ever; and according to Professor Roubini they are “downright bubbly”. So – what is still keeping this economist, who seems to have a financial crystal ball, up at night?

In a recent opinion piece featured on Project Syndicate, Roubini casts doubt what he calls the markets’ “rational complacency”, believing instead that there are three different scenarios that could quickly turn the relatively stable markets upside down. Citing the recent unrest in the Ukraine, uncertainty surrounding oil prices, and the possibility of a domestic terrorist attack, Roubini fears the interaction of any of these global factors with any degree of regional and local sources of geopolitical tension could end disastrously.

How are global businesses meant to heed this warning? Roubini warns what will result from a ‘head in the sand’ mentality: “A century ago, financial markets priced in a very low probability that a major conflict would occur, blissfully ignoring the risks that led to World War I until late in the summer of 1914. Back then, markets were poor at correctly pricing low-probability, high-impact tail risks. They still are.”

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Nouriel Roubini, Chairman, Roubini Global Economics & Professor of Economics, NYU’s Stern School of Business, will lead a spirited discussion of where businesses are conducting business globally and the obstacles and pressures they face as created by the world’s economic and political instabilities.

Interested in hearing the rest of the story? Want to get tips on developing sound strategies that hedge against these risks? Register today to reserve your front row seat to Nouriel’s Keynote address at “What’s Next in B2B Payments?” for the answer to these questions and more.