Events

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.

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

Moderator:

Prof. Yang Liu
Associate Professor of Finance, HKU Business School

Panellists:

Prof. Peter DeMarzo
John G. McDonald Professor of Finance, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Mr. Duane Kuang
Founding Managing Partner, Qiming Venture Partners

Prof. Heiwai Tang
Associate Vice-President (Global), HKU
Associate Dean (External Relations), HKU Business School

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.