Our theme was heat—the hottest week of the year in Washington DC, the U.S. IRS in real hot water, and white hot enthusiasm for a visit to America from our group of 42 Commissioners of Income Tax from the Indian Revenue Service. The group were here to learn about investigation techniques and use of technology. Smith faculty, former IRS Deputy Commissioner Mark Matthews, and many IRS executive and DC tax administration experts combined to share their knowledge of money-laundering, off-shoring, computer crimes and so on with our visitors.
Dr. Mike Faulkender led a spirited discussion on the tax-exempt targeting scandal and on the hearings to which Apple was subjected earlier this summer. In his estimation, Congress and bad law are the real villians in each case.
Dr. Peter Weiss led a workshop on data-mining. Dr. Anil Gupta widened the focus of the program, talking about Global Megatrends and the Changing Dynamics of the World Economy.
We visited the U.S. Capitol in the company of former Wisconsin Congressman Jim Moody. We sat around the board table at the Fed, and went to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to see the new $100 bills being made.
At Brookings, Dr. Stephen Cohen signed copies of his new book about India and Pakistan–more heated discussion–and on the final morning new author Michael Pocalyko shared tips on spotting fraud, and signed copies of his thriller The Navigator.
Caela and I were treated to songs and poems in Hindi; given beautiful silk purses; and invited to visit everywhere from Agra to Bangalore to Lucknow and Goa. We will go. We want our own saris.
The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park uses its network and influence in the national capital area to provide a wide range of learning experiences for government and corporate groups from all over the world. Contact Liz Barron lbarron@rhsmith.umd.edu or 301 405 5387 to plan your visit to the United States and to learn from Smith’s faculty and expert contacts.
