News

‘Credit Crunch’ – Durham University Expertise

(15 October 2008)

Durham University experts are exploring various issues relating to the credit crunch in areas such as the housing market, political and economic history, banking, mortgages and finance.

Full details of experts available to speak to the media, with an outline of their position and expertise, are listed below. ▪ Professor Susan Smith Lecturer in Department of Geography / Director (Social Sciences) in the Institute of Advanced Study http://www.dur.ac.uk/ias/ Areas of expertise: - House prices - Housing wealth - Mortgage debt - Housing risk - Credit crisis - Housing derivatives - Financial markets Contact: 0191 33 41946 / susanj.smith@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/geography/staff/geogstaffhidden/?id=940 ▪ Dr Lawrence Black Lecturer in Department of History Areas of expertise: - 20th century British political history - Post-1945 British social and cultural history: Affluence, consumerism, television Contact: 0191 33 41052 / lawrence.black@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history/staff/profiles/?id=2216 ▪ Professor Ranald Michie Lecturer in Department of History Areas of expertise: - British and international economic history since 1700 - Financial history; especially the history of global financial markets; the British financial system & City of London - Stock exchanges Contact: 0191 33 41067 / r.c.michie@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history/staff/profiles/?id=403 ▪ Ms Dinah Bennett Director, Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning Areas of expertise: - Banker characteristics (psychometric test use) - Banker training / relationship management - Marketing for small businesses - Marketing re. business development - Regional Business Development by women - Relationship management re. SME's - Women in business - Women's Entrepreneurship Contact: 0191 334 5497 / dinah.bennett@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/cel/contact/ ▪ Dr Lorna Fox -O'Mahony Reader in Durham Law School & Deputy Dean (UG) in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health. Areas of expertise: - Legal framework for mortgage repossession/bankruptcy; especially in relation to eviction from home; low-income home ownership policies; legal protections for owner-occupied home; family home, children and eviction; human rights issues relating to repossession and bankruptcy - right to respect for home in Art 8 of European Convention on Human Rights - Squatting; including urban squatting and the acquisition of title by unlawful occupation (adverse possession); decisions of the European Court of Human Rights on adverse possession; stewardship and the government's empty homes agenda - The elderly and financial transactions; including equity release, reverse mortgages, undue influence and bankruptcy - Informal acquisition of ownership interests in the home; including cases between cohabitants and family property. - Protection of people who act as surety for the debt of another. Contact: 0191 33 42798 / lorna.fox@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/law/staff/stafflist/?id=1602 ▪ Dr Thomas Renstrom Senior Lecturer in Economics & Director of MSc Programmes Areas of expertise: - Credit crisis: In particular government policy and central banking - Public Finance: Most issues regarding the budget - Political economy - Environmental economics Contact: 0191 33 46369 / t.i.renstrom@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/dbs/faculty/staff/profile/?id=723 ▪ Professor Phil Holmes Professor of Finance in the Business School Areas of expertise: - Corporate finance - Futures and option markets - Derivative markets: hedging, impact on underlying market, efficiency, arbitrage; - Market integration; volume and volatility in asset markets (futures and spot); - Emerging markets Contact: 0191 33 45424 / p.r.holmes@durham.ac.uk Profile page: http://www.dur.ac.uk/dbs/faculty/staff/profile/?id=224