The Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business provides vital thought leadership by conducting original research, widely sharing its findings, and teaching the next generation of finance and policy leaders.
An Overview of the Dodd-Frank Act and its Evolution
The Dodd-Frank Act, passed in 2010 after the 2008 financial crisis, remains a cornerstone of U.S. financial regulation. It introduced sweeping reforms—including the creation of the FSOC and CFPB, stricter oversight for large institutions, and the Volcker Rule to limit high-risk trading. As we approach the 15th anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Act, this white paper revisits its origins, key provisions, and long-term impact on financial stability and consumer protection.
Alternative Investments by Individual Investors: The Next Frontier for Private Equity
This paper explores the expanding role of individual investors in alternative assets such as private equity, credit, and real estate. As institutional fundraising faces headwinds, asset managers are increasingly turning to accredited investors to drive future growth. The paper examines regulatory shifts, emerging fund structures, and innovative platforms that are democratizing access to private markets.
This paper explores the rapid rise of private credit as the fastest-growing segment of asset management. Once a niche market, private credit has expanded tenfold since the 2008 financial crisis, now projected to reach $3.5 trillion in assets by 2028. The report examines how nonbank lending has reshaped financing for middle-market companies, driven by regulatory shifts, bank retrenchment, and investor demand for yield.
Ernie Tedeschi’s "What is the Bond Market Telling Us?" argues that rising U.S. Treasury yields amid weak economic growth reflect a deeper shift in investor sentiment. Following the April 2 tariff announcement, yields surged due to a rising term premium signaling growing concerns about U.S. fiscal sustainability and global leadership.
In a time of heightened market volatility and economic uncertainty, read this overview of investing basics. It is a reminder to focus on the long term, tune out the noise, diversify wisely, minimize costs, invest consistently, and stay grounded in fundamentals while navigating turbulent markets and building long-term wealth.
The digital asset space is reshaping the global financial system, from how we transfer value to how institutions think about money, trust, and infrastructure. This series of explainers covers the fundamentals of the space including: cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, tokenization, CBDCs and stablecoins, TradFi vs. DeFi, digital asset exchanges, smart contracts, and illicit finance.
Smart contracts are one of the most powerful innovations in blockchain technology. They’re self-executing agreements with terms written directly into code, enabling complex transactions without the need for intermediaries. From decentralized finance to digital identity, read more about how smart contracts are redefining how we interact online.
Tokenization brings the transparency, auditability, and programmability of blockchain technology to traditional assets from real estate and investment funds to intellectual property. This latest explainer covers how token standards revolutionized finance, real-world applications of tokenization, leading companies pioneering the space, and the need for comprehensive regulation.
Central bank digital currencies and stablecoins are emerging as powerful new tools in the digital payment landscape. While still in their early stages, these technologies promise faster transactions, greater financial inclusion, and cross-border efficiency, but they also pose critical regulatory and policy challenges.
Cryptocurrencies have revolutionized how to move value across the internet, which has prompted traditional financial institutions to adapt, regulators to respond, and society to rethink what digital finance can look like.
