Moral Hazard: When the Market Lost Its Soul

When the pursuit of profit overrides the foundation of integrity, the consequences resonate far beyond the trading floor. This event offers a critical exploration of one of the most significant financial upheavals in modern history.

The evening features a special screening of the Academy Award-winning film The Big Short. Directed by Adam McKay, the film deconstructs the 2008 financial crisis by following the eccentric outsiders who identified the housing bubble and chose to bet against the American economy.

Following the credits, we will transition from the screen to the stage for an insightful dialogue. While the film highlights the "winners" who predicted the crash, it raises haunting questions about systemic greed and the ethical blind spots that allowed a global catastrophe to unfold.

The post-film panel discussion features Professor Paul Fiorelli, Professor Laura Powell, Professor Mike Halloran, Dr. Stefan Wuorinen, and Dr. DJ Steffensen.

The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP by Friday, Apr. 17, 2026. 

Visitor parking is $5. Parking permits can be purchased online up to 5 days prior to the event at xavier.edu/visitorpermit or when you arrive on campus via the posted QR code on marked Visitor parking spaces. No applicable event code. Choose Hourly Permit.

Registration Form

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Questions? Contact  wcbevents@xavier.edu.