WHAT:       Urban Book Talk: “The American Mortgage System: Crisis and Reform,” a panel discussion held as part of the Penn Institute for Urban Research Public Interest Series at the University of Pennsylvania in cooperation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia and Penn Press. The volume editors and contributors will discuss key elements of the mortgage meltdown and solutions to the problems facing the future of American home ownership.

                     The discussion is based on the book, The American Mortgage System: Crisis and Reform, edited by Susan M. Wachter, co-director of PennIUR and professor in Penn’s Wharton School and School of Design, and Marvin M. Smith, economist and community development research advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

WHO:          Vince Reinhart, chief U.S. economist for Morgan Stanley-New York and former director of the Federal Reserve Board's Division of Monetary Affairs

Ingrid Ellen, professor of urban planning and public policy at New York University's Wagner Graduate School of Public Service  

Joseph Tracey, executive vice president and senior advisor to the president at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Moderator: Ellen Seidman, executive vice president, ShoreBank Corporation

WHERE:     Living Room at the Inn at Penn, 3600 Sansom St., Philadelphia   

WHEN:       5:30-7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 21, including a question-and-answer session, book signing and reception

DETAILS:  This event is free and open to the public.  

Additional information is available at penniur@pobox.upenn.edu.