Bernard L. Schwartz

The bursting of the housing and credit bubbles has left the United States with a huge debt overhang.  As a result of the buildup of private sector debt and the economic crisis, households and firms are finding it difficult to service debt and lay a foundation for a sustainable recovery. 

New America Foundation's Economic Growth Program hosted leading economists and public intellectuals to discuss the following questions:

For those of you who attended last Thursday's Bernard L. Schwartz Economic Symposium, thank you for helping to make it such a thoughtful, provocative discussion.

For those who weren't able to attend -- or who now simply want to revisit a particular panel or presentation -- video, transcripts and MP3 audio recordings of the entire event are available on NewAmerica.net.

Highlights from the symposium included:

Washington, DC--America's economy is in serious trouble, and it will take more than the standard countercyclical measures to fix it. The nation today is mired in a post-bubble economy, and needs a bold and optimistic economic recovery plan that goes beyond conventional thinking. This new proposal from the New America Foundation offers exactly that. In "An Economic Recovery Program for the Post-Bubble Economy" -- the first proposal in New America's new Big Ideas series -- Bernard L. Schwartz and Sherle R. Schwenninger warn of… more

Chairman, Oberstar, Representative Mica, and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me to testify today on the question of "financing infrastructure investments."

Over the past several decades, we have accumulated a sizeable public infrastructure deficit. As a result, a variety of infrastructure bottlenecks-traffic congested roads, clogged ports, and an antiquated air traffic system, to mention just a few-have begun to undercut our economy's efficiency and undermine our quality of life.

Washington, D.C. – The New America Foundation today announced that Andrés Martinez, former editorial page editor of the Los Angeles Times, will become director of the Bernard L. Schwartz Fellows Program, which seeks to identify and support the next generation of American public policy scholars and writers.

New America provides financial, professional and institutional support for up to 35 fellows each year. Its fellows program seeks out individuals whose research and ideas promise to bring forward exceptionally promising new thinking… more

An important debate over fiscal policy is beginning to take place within the Democratic Party. For the past 15 years, deficit hawks within the party have argued that addressing America’s fiscal challenges should take priority over our public investment needs, suggesting that, in effect, we cannot afford to increase public investment until we have reduced the federal deficit.

But there is an alternate view, holding that the deficit hawk position neither accurately reflects America’s true economic strength nor… more

Bernard L. Schwartz is the Chairman and CEO of BLS Investments, LLC, a private investment firm. Mr. Schwartz retired in March 2006 after 34 years as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Loral Space & Communications.