Leading academics, bankers and regulators gathered at the Robert H.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Central bankers in Japan and the Europe Union are at their wits' end in trying to figure how to generate demand and stave off deflation. Both banks have dropped interest rates into negative territory, encouraging spending by making saving literally costly. Yet the publics of the two economic regions have reacted differently. Each is unhappy for a different reason.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Does the stock market encourage corporate conformity? Yes, according to new research from the Robert H.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — The debate over whether Great Britain should exit the E.U. — to "Brexit" or not to "Brexit"? — is rippling outward from Europe into the world's major financial markets. The G20 nations, who met in Shanghai last weekend, warned of a "shock" to the world economy if Britain goes its own way.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Clifford Rossi, executive-in-residence and professor of the practice at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, had a front-row seat at the 2008 financial crisis, the subject of the film "The Big Short," which has been nominated for Best Picture in the 2016 Oscars.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — U.S corporations are sitting on some $3 trillion in cash, which some commentators view as

By Elinda F. Kiss Although the stock market has already fallen 9 percent in the new year (primarily as a reaction to concerns about China and cheaper oil), we are not headed for another financial crisis that could lead to full-blown economic meltdown, as in 2008. 

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Several Republican presidential candidates have endorsed — or said they'd consider — putting America back on the gold standard. Sen. Ted Cruz has been the most outspoken, arguing that pegging the dollar to gold would make monetary decisions less arbitrary than the ones currently made by the Fed.

Multinational American companies with significant operations in countries with low corporate taxes take on less debt than companies that face higher taxes, according to a new study from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — In Switzerland, some customers are watching their bank accounts shrink each month, even if they don't make any withdrawals. In Denmark, when you repay your loan, you don't add interest to the payment, you subtract interest. The banks are literally paying people to borrow money.