Several panelists will speak today about a wide range of economic issues at NIU’s Social Science Research Institute.

The panel discussion is titled “Encouraging Economic Development and Growth,” and is the fourth installment in the institute’s colloquium series.

Featured panelists will be NIU Sociology Professor and author Herb Rubin, the director of Sterling Industrial Development Commission Director; Reed Nolte, former state representative; Gene Hoffman, education specialist; and Michael Peddle, NIU public administration professor and regional economist.

The topic for the colloquium series is “Limits of Government in Society,” but today’s panel will focus on several issues, Peddle said.

Rubin will speak about community development, Nolte will discuss the government in the private sector, Hoffman will discuss school financing and its implications for economic development and Peddle will moderate the panel.

The panel discussion will begin at 3:30 p.m. The Social Science Research Institute is located at Third and Locust streets.

“We’ve got a lot of good people speaking on some very relevant issues, so we encourage anyone interested to attend,” Peddles said.