This event was a panel discussion during which various experts in finance and economics spoke about the trends emerging in the American stock market. The scholars and professionals did not try to make explicit predictions about the state of the American economy in the future. Instead, they focused on several important aspects. In particular, they noticed that the current situation could be described as a slow-growth environment which means that the tempo of recovery is rather slow, even at the beginning of 2013. Nevertheless, the participants also said that the signs of recovery were also noticeable; for example, they pointed out that the financial performance of American firms had improved. One of the main aspects that they discussed was the necessity to diversify the portfolio of investors since, in this way, one can mitigate many potential risks. In other words, people should invest in various types of stock if they want to increase their security. This is one of the main points that both scholars and practitioners stressed during this panel discussion. In my opinion, these questions are important for understanding the modern economy. Additionally, the experts focused on several factors that could influence the recovery of the American economy. Much attention was paid to the energy policies of the United States and the country’s dependence on oil supplies. The participants argued that this dependence on oil supplies could prevent the economy from achieving firms. In their opinion, the energy policies of the state will be critical for the later development of the United States. Furthermore, they emphasized the necessity to improve the productivity of American businesses because, in this way, they can gain a competitive advantage over foreign firms, especially those that are based in China. On the whole, the participants identified two conditions that are critical for recovery. First, one should focus on the ability of the country to develop and implement renewable energy technologies. Secondly, managers should focus on the efficiency of American businesses because it is critical for the development of the economy. These are the main issues that were discussed by the speakers. It seems that this discussion of the economic problems can be very useful to both students and professionals. It is possible to provide several recommendations to other students. In particular, these people should not disregard the usefulness of various lectures and seminars related to finance and economics. In many cases, these events can help an individual better understand the drivers affecting the stock market, and the economy in general. Moreover, in this way, people can learn more about various risks that are related to the stock market. Secondly, several important lessons can be drawn from the event that I attended. For instance, students should remember the dynamics of the stock market are mostly unpredictable; therefore, one should not assume that there is some type of stock that guarantees complete security to an investor. Therefore, diversification should be used as a strategy for minimizing the impact of risks (Besley & Brigham 324; Levi 330). Apart from that, a