Public Lecture and Panel Talk with Stanford’s Prof Peter DeMarzo
In a year marked by record public debt, elevated rates, and geopolitical tension, understanding sovereign risk is mission-critical. HKU Business School will host a public lecture with Professor Peter M. DeMarzo, The John G. McDonald Professor of Finance at Stanford University, on November 4, 2025. Details as follows.
| Date: | Tuesday, November 4, 2025 |
| Time: | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (registration begins at 6:00 pm; light refreshments will be served) |
| Venue: | HKU iCube, 4005-4007, 40/F, Two Exchange Square, Central, Hong Kong |
| Language: | English |
Public Lecture
Topic: Sovereign Debt and Financial Fragility — Debt, Risk, and Global Stability
Global sovereign debt has reached unprecedented levels. This talk confronts the critical tension at the heart of the global financial system: while powerful incentives compel nations to borrow excessively, the historic demand for that debt is becoming increasingly fragile and may be in decline. Professor DeMarzo will break down this dangerous mismatch, exploring why countries over-borrow and analyzing the economic and geopolitical shifts that threaten to upend the market for national debt.
About the Speaker
Peter DeMarzo is the John G. McDonald Professor of Finance and a former Dean at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he also founded and directs the innovative Stanford LEAD Online Business Program. He is a past president of the American Finance Association, a research associate for the National Bureau of Economic Research, and co-author of the leading MBA textbook, Corporate Finance.
Professor DeMarzo’s foundational research spans corporate finance, asset securitization, and financial market structure. His most recent work focuses on the regulation of financial intermediaries and the challenges associated with excess leverage.
Panel Talk
Topic: Bridging Continents: Stanford and Hong Kong Leaders on the Future of Business and Finance
Following the lecture, speakers will exchange perspectives on the evolving landscape of economics and finance.
Register Now at: https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b7VVd4VWCXu8mLc
Limited seats on a first-come, first-served basis.
A confirmation email will be sent to successful registrants after the deadline.
Registration deadline: 12:00pm, October 27, 2025.
