The U.S. managing editor and columnist at the Financial Times spoke on campus Tuesday about the economic crisis and how it is affecting the rest of the world.
Chrystia Freeland, who has been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, spoke as a part of the Wisconsin Union Theater's annual Distinguished Lecture Series.
Freeland is the author of Sale of the Century,"" a book about Russia's journey from communism to capitalism. She is also known for her expertise in the realm of financial and international issues.
When asked about the impact the economic crisis is having on other countries, Freeland said the effect is ""enormous and underappreciated in the United States.""
According to Freeland, the current economic recession is unlike past economic crises.
""It is important to recognize that this is the first truly global economic crisis and the first financial crisis to start at the center [of the United States] rather than the peripheral,"" she said.
Those who claim to know when the recession will end are people to be cautious of, according to Freeland. She said the smartest people are those who admit the crisis is unpredictable.
Freeland said she spent time talking with college students about the economic crisis.
""I think students really can relate, and probably, that's not an accident, because students have loans and want to have jobs,"" she said.
In their meeting last week, The UW System Board of Regents announced UW schools received $1.75 million in 2008 for need-based financial aid from John and Tashia Morgridge. Over 2,000 students received the aid despite a poor national economy.
Freeland said students are intensely interested in the impact of the economic crisis on their lives as students and the impact on the employment prospects once they graduate.
""It's interesting for me to see how concerned people are,"" Freeland said.
Freeland is one of the several lecturers who are asked to speak at the Wisconsin Union Theater each year.
American philosopher Daniel Dennett will speak at the next distinguished lecture March 2.
