March
Professor Alfred Mettler
Associate Professor of Professional Practice at the University of Miami
For our March 2018 member of the month the IAES welcomes Associate Professor of Professional Practice Alfred Mettler. Before joining the University of Miami, Professor Mettler has held academic positions at the University of Zurich (Switzerland), New York University (NYU), the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird), and Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA). Professor Mettler’s principal academic interests include global banking and finance, the risk management of financial institutions, the global financial architecture, and financial education.
Why did you become a member of the International Atlantic Economic Society?
I like the general goal and purpose of IAES and the setup with two conferences per year, one in Europe, and one in the U.S. Also, the conferences always have high-level keynote speakers and panelists and a very interesting mix of attendees.
What types of projects/research are you currently working on and what inspired/motivated you to pursue these interests?
One project I am working on looks into how the rules and regulations of financial institutions differ across countries and regions of the world. While the written regulations are often similar, the way the rules are enforced are not homogenous. In another project I am looking into how Fintech companies, specifically Peer to Peer-Lenders, assess the credit risk of their borrowers. Especially in countries with no personal credit scoring system, various new methods have been suggested and tested.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering entering your line of work/field of study?
If you are intellectually curious, are willing to work hard, have a quantitative aptitude, and have a genuine interest in “how the world works”, then go for it!
Going forward, what other projects/research are you looking to or hoping to pursue?
I plan to look deeper into various Fintech issues, and how they impact the world of Finance and Economics.
What’s your favorite hobby?
Having grown up in Switzerland I used to ski (of course), but living in Miami makes it somewhat difficult. Actually, I am doing Yoga on a regular basis.