Economic Growth Program: Recent and Upcoming Events

The current state of the "shadow banking system," rising unemployment rates, the sinking value of the dollar, and the lasting mortgage crisis demonstrate the need for long-view reform. The Next Stage will consider the larger implications of the new administration's economic policy on the economy and the international financial and monetary system.  Featured speakers include James K. Galbraith, Stephany Griffith-Jones, Jan Kregel, Robert Johnson, and others. 

More than one in six working Americans is now unemployed or underemployed, with more job losses yet to come. At this Oct. 20 event, some of America's leading policymakers and economic thinkers gathered to discuss how public policy should respond to this unprecedented unemployment crisis.

Long before the complete meltdown of the financial industry last fall, Senator Byron Dorgan warned us about the risks posed by one of the key ingredients in that catastrophe: the complex financial packages known as derivatives. In a Washington Monthly cover story, "Very Risky Business" (October 1994), the North Dakota Democrat predicted with uncanny precision what actually happened in September 2008 -- the

On October 13, 2009, Adrian Blundell-Wignall discussed the origins of the financial crisis and requirements for reform at the New America Foundation, as part of the OECD Breakfast Series.  Blundell-Wignall, Deputy Director for Financial and Enterprise Affairs at the OECD and author of a recent paper in the Journal of Asian Economics, delivered technical yet impassioned remarks from an international perspective, linking the explosion of complex derivatives to lax regulation, international tax arbitrage, and the persistent "equity culture" on

On September 21, 2009, author and economist Pat Choate discussed his new book, Saving Capitalism: Keeping America Strong, at the New America Foundation.  In a conversation with Michael Lind, Policy Director of the Economic Growth Program at New America, Choate offered his perspective on the ongoing economic crisis and outlined his book's comprehensive policy prescription for recovery and sustainable growth. 

Second Bernard L. Schwartz Economic Symposium

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:

On September 9, 2009, author and journalist Sam Tanenhaus came to the New America Foundation to discuss his new book, The Death of Conservatism.  Tanenhaus, Editor of the Book Review and Week in Review at The New York Times and biographer of Whittaker Chambers and William F. Buckley, Jr., traced the intellectual history of "movement conservatism" from the philosophies of Edmund Burke to the presidency of George W. Bush.  Along the way, he argued, conservatism's goals shifted from conservation and… more

In the aftermath of the bubble economy, America needs to shift resources from the debt-inflated finance and housing sectors to the productive economy.  As part of this long-term strategy, how do we revitalize manufacturing? Join the editor and several contributors to a new study, Manufacturing a Better Future for America, published by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, to discuss ways to rebuild the foundation of the American economy by means of innovation, industrial policies and trade reform.  more

Does America have a flawed pattern of growth? For over two decades, growth has depended on asset bubbles and rising indebtedness.  Business cycle recoveries have been marked by jobless recoveries and stagnant wages for most Americans. 

Can the United States prosper and participate successfully in international trade with an economy based mainly on services and without manufacturing?

Ralph Gomory, one of America's leading economic thinkers, challenges the conventional wisdom about the post-industrial economy. Boldly clarifying classic economic analysis, Gomory explains why manufacturing continues to be essential to our prosperity.

Please join us for a provocative discussion on the future of the American economy.

Does America need a Green Bank? 

The Green Bank would be a U.S. government corporation charged with financing a wide range of clean energy technologies. Proponents argue that a Green Bank could help America achieve greater energy efficiency and independence while creating new jobs. The Clean Energy and Security Act, recently passed by the House of Representatives, included the Green Bank in the form of the Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA).

How can a dysfunctional and unsustainable relationship between the U.S. and China be reformed?

Will China and the Gulf oil states have the U.S. over the proverbial barrel, or will the world's leading capitalist economy get lucky once again? On May 26, 2009, two of the New America Foundation's leading experts on geopolitics and the global economy joined with Foreign Policy magazine to debate which countries will emerge relatively stronger in the aftermath of the Great Recession.

Please join Lori Wallach and Todd Tucker in a discussion of their book The Rise and Fall of Fast Track Trade Authority.

The digital version of the book is available at www.FastTrackHistory.org.

On April 2, leaders of the world's twenty largest economies will meet in London to work to restore stability, confidence and craft a path forward for the world's financial system.  This meeting represents a prime opportunity for President Obama to demonstrate that he understands what is at stake globally in this financial crisis. Can Obama translate his popularity into a new US relationship with the world?  Will the US approach this summit with a willingness to take a realistic approach… more

Bernard L. Schwartz Economic Symposium

For the past decade and a half, U.S. consumption has been the principal driver of world economic growth, supplying demand for the consumption of goods that propelled the world economy.

As the U.S. struggles with recession and its consumers are forced to retrench, leaders of the G-20 Summit must make it their first priority to search for new engines of global growth.

On January 30, 2009, the New America Foundation hosted a panel discussion around the release of a Washington Monthly cover story and new proposal in the "Big Ideas" series. Featured speaker Phillip Longman, Senior Fellow at New America and Research Director of the Next Social Contract Initiative, pitched his plan to dramatically increase investment in freight rail infrastructure as part of the

Today's event has been postponed, due to the inclement weather. We apologize for the inconvenience, and will announce the new date as soon as it is determined. 

Wall Street's and Washington's largest financial institutions are fighting for survival. The environment grows more hostile every day. Only those that evolve will prevail.

Leo Tilman, author of "Financial Darwinism", president of strategic advisory firm L.M. Tilman & Co. and former Chief Institutional Strategist at Bear Stearns, discusses the origins of the financial crisis and how to radically redesign the financial system to make it fit to survive.