The first in a series of webinars sponsored by the Center for Economic Development and Business Research and the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University will address climate change and cap and trade.

The U.S. Congress is developing major energy legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade regime for the first time in history. In her presentation at the first webinar, Margo Thorning, chief economist for the American Council for Capital Formation, will address some of the key issues being debated in the Senate concerning the design of a clean energy and climate bill, such as the potential role of low- and no-carbon technologies, the use of domestic and international offsets and other cost-containment measures. The potential economic impacts of climate change policy on the future of the U.S. economy will also be discussed.

The hour-long event begins at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27. To register, go http://www.wichita.edu/j/?519.

Another webinar session in this series addresses the question, "Will there be a productivity revolution in health care?" David Cutler, department of economics professor at Harvard University, will discuss how, at this time of organizational and financial change in health care, this system is poised to undergo a revolution in productivity. The event will be held from 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, May 25. To register, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?520.

John Williamson, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, will address the question, "Is the dollar doomed as a reserve currency?" at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 29.

Investor concerns about continued large budget deficits and runaway inflation have led many to question the dollar's status as the world's principal reserve currency. Williamson will discuss what, if anything, the administration and the Federal Reserve can do to maintain the reserve currency status of the U.S. dollar.

To register for this event, go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?521.

The Center for Economic Development and Business Research will continue to seek and engage qualified experts to present webinars on current topics of interest to the business community.