Associate Professor of Economics Amrita Dhar delivered presentations at two separate academic events recently, engaging with audiences on topics ranging from cryptocurrency to sovereign risk. These presentations reflect ongoing faculty involvement in both public-facing education and advanced economic research.

The first presentation took place in March, when Dhar was invited to speak to the University of Mary Washington Elder Study Group via Zoom. Invited due to strong interest in the subject, her talk, “Decrypting Cryptocurrency,” offered a broad overview of the evolution of money from early barter systems to modern digital currencies such as Bitcoin. The presentation explored how cryptocurrencies function, the opportunities they create, and the risks they pose, helping make a complex and rapidly evolving topic more accessible to a general audience.

In April, Dhar presented at Towson University’s Department of Economics, where she shared her research titled “Global Signals: Central Bank Communications and Sovereign Risk Premia.” This paper examines how forward-looking communication from both domestic and major international central banks influences sovereign risk premia. Using a large dataset of central bank speeches, the research finds that communication from major central banks plays a significant role in shaping sovereign risk, while domestic central bank communication becomes more influential when it provides higher-quality information. The findings highlight the importance of international financial linkages and the role of credible communication in global markets.

Through these presentations, Dhar contributed to both community learning and scholarly discourse, strengthening connections across academic and public audiences. Her work reflects the department’s commitment to engaging in contemporary economic issues while advancing research that informs understanding of global financial systems.