Washington Metro Objectivism Discussion (WMOD)

			   May 13, 1998 Meeting

	  "The Market Challenge to Government's Money Monopoly."

			 by Dr. Kurt Schuler


At the May 13 WMOD meeting, Dr Kurt Schuler will present the
intellectual case against government issuing money, and how
this is converging with new technologies that are making it
easier for markets to discipline bad monetary decisions by
governments.  Kurt will describe to what extent the technology
alone can free us without a change in policy, and to what
extent the technology alone is not sufficient
to promote monetary freedom.

Kurt Schuler is a self-employed economic consultant specializing in
monetary policy and exchange-rate issues. His extensive international
experience includes work on currency board systems that has directly
influenced monetary reforms in Argentina (1991), Estonia (1992),
Lithuania (1994), Bosnia (1997), and Bulgaria (1997). He has also 
trained central bank staff, analyzed devaluation risk, studied 
economic policy advice, and assessed financial regulation.  Kurt's 
clients have included IMCC, the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for 
International Development, AIG Trading Corp., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, 
the central bank of El Salvador, and think tanks in the United States 
and abroad.  His field experience includes Africa, Asia,
Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

Kurt was a postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 
from 1992-9 where he taught an undergraduate course "Controversies in
Applied Economics."  He received his Ph.D. in economics from George
Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, in 1992. 

Dr Schuler has written thirteen books on monetary issues, including "Should
Developing Countries Have Central Banks?" (1996),  "Alternative Monetary
Regimes for Jamaica" (1996), "Currency Boards for Developing Countries"
(1994), and "Russian Currency and Finance" (1993).  He has written more
than fifty articles and essays for publications including the New York Times
and the Financial Times.  

You can find more information on Kurt Schuler's work on his web page
http://www.erols.com/kurrency/, and you can contact him via email at
. 

		       April WMOD Meeting

Thanks again to Jack Wheeler for his stimulating talk on "How Atlas
is Really Going to Shrug" on April 15.  We had  about 30 folks at 
the Tavern, and the discussion raged on till after 11pm.

		
		When and Where is the WMOD Meeting?

		    (NOTE NEW RESTAURANT)    

Join us on Wednesday, May 13.  Note that this is the 2nd Wednesday of the
month rather than our usual 3rd Wednesday meeting date.  Anyone who is 
interested in rational discussion of Ayn Rand's ideas is welcome. 
We have a NEW MEETING LOCATION that is Metro accessible.  You can either
join us for drinks at 6:30 with dinner at 7 pm and/or for the talk (free) 
at 8:15 pm at the Hunan Palace in Rosslyn, VA just across the Key Bridge
from Georgetown.  The street address is 1812 North Moore Street.
If you come by Metro, get off at the Rosslyn Metro Exit and the
Hunan Palace is only a few feet away. Take the street
exit on N Moore Street (across street from Roy Rogers/Burger King),
go out of Metro and take a left, and the Palace is a few feet down 
N Moore street. If you drive, there is a parking garage next door to
the Palace that is free after 6:00 pm if you get your ticket validated 
at the Palace. WMOD has arranged for a $15 fixed price dinner (including
tax and tip).  Or you can order from the menu.  Please RSVP
to WMOD at (703) 820-7696 before noon Wednesday 5/13 so that
we can tell the restaurant how many tables to set up and how many
to expect for dinner.  For more information, call the Palace at 
(703) 528-8188, or call David Saum at (703) 820-7696 (W) or (703)
671-5119 (H).  If you have transportation problems, give us a call.
	      
			Future Meetings

WMOD meetings are generally held on the 3rd Wednesday of each
month. We are always looking for new stimulating meeting topics 
related to Objectivism.  Please contact WMOD if you have suggestions
for meeting topics and locations, or if you can volunteer some time to
arrange meetings. 

			 Calendar

The annual Institute for Objectivist Studies summer philosophy seminar will 
be held during the week of July 4 at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  
For more information consult the IOS web page http://www.ios.com or call
914/471-6195.


		     WMOD Contact Information

The WMOD newsletter is $10/yr,  email newsletter is free.

Contact: 
  Dave Saum
  WMOD
  PO Box 8007
  Falls Church, VA 22041
    Email: DSaum at infiltec.com
    Phone: (703) 820-7696
    Fax: (703) 671-9350
    Web: http://www.infiltec.com/wmod.htm

----------- "Sapere aude" (dare to know) -------------------