BOOK
Barry Rabe, December 15, 2009
Greenhouse Governance features a number of America's preeminent public policy scholars, examining some aspect of governance and climate change. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Douglas J. Elliott, November 13, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), which protects the pensions of 44 million workers, announced a $22 billion deficit for fiscal year ending September 2009. Douglas Elliott analyzes the three main reasons for the PBGC’s financial troubles, and cautions that there are serious structural problems within PBGC that cannot be blamed on the financial crisis. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Douglas J. Elliott, November 10, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd is introducing legislation to consolidate banking regulation into one federal agency. Doug Elliott says having one regulator for “safety and soundness” and another focused on consumer protection is promising, should help avoid regulatory arbitrage and could hopefully prevent another financial crisis. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin Neil Baily, September 29, 2009, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Martin Baily testified before the Senate Banking Committee on the creation of a single micro prudential regulator, combining the regulatory and supervisory functions now carried out by the Fed, the OCC, the OTS, the SEC and the FDIC. He calls attention to the Australia model as a good positive example where a single prudential regulator has worked well. Read More
BOOK
Richard J. Herring, Robert E. Litan and Yasuyuki Fuchita, September 15, 2009
Prudent Lending Restored offers suggestions on how we can reform securitization, including a solution to insure the mortgage market against default risk. Read More
VIDEO
Douglas J. Elliott, July 27, 2009
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ensures the retirement funds of nearly 44 million American workers and retirees, and now plans to assume responsibility for the pension plans of 70,000 GM workers. Lawmakers are concerned about PBGC's growing deficit, which has tripled to roughly $33.5 billion in six months. Douglas Elliott says they have good reason to be worried, given the current economy.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Douglas J. Elliott, June 04, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s deficit tripled over the last six months and could top out at more than $100 billion. According to Douglas Elliott, this accelerated loss is the result of a combination of factors, including the PBGC’s inability—thanks to Congress—to charge premium rates that would cover its risk, and the investment and funding choices made by the companies that sponsor the pension plans insured by the PBGC. Is another massive bailout in store? Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Douglas J. Elliott, May 20, 2009, Center On Federal Financial Institutions
As Chrysler and GM face bankruptcy proceedings and restructuring, the Senate held a hearing on whether the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) has the capacity to insure the pensions of nearly 44 million Americans who work or have worked at those firms. Douglas Elliott explores the particulars of the PBGC, the precarious situation that the automotive industry finds itself in, and offers 14 possible solutions to the problems that plague the government’s pension program. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Henry J. Aaron, May 12, 2009, The Huffington Post
The Obama administration’s breakthrough with the health care industry to cut costs is eerily reminiscent of the 1970s, according to Henry Aaron. Then, as today, health care spending was outpacing income growth and the industry promised to voluntarily to rein in the growth. If we are to learn from history, rather than simply repeat it, he says, there are some simple but vitally important lessons. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Pietro S. Nivola and John C. Courtney, April 23, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The Obama administration and Congress are working rapidly to design a new regulatory architecture for the nation’s financial system. “They might consider taking a page or two from a model next door—Canada,” write Pietro Nivola and John C. Courtney, as they explore why the Canadian banking system remains solvent and solid amid the current global crisis. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alice M. Rivlin, April 07, 2009, BigThink.com
Alice Rivlin joined bigthink.com to discuss how businesses can succeed in a new regulatory environment. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert E. Litan, March 04, 2009, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
In order to prevent future financial crises, Robert Litan testifies before Congress about the need to create a systemic risk regulator with oversight of all systemically important financial institutions. He advocates that all federal financial regulatory activities be consolidated in two agencies—a financial solvency regulator and a federal consumer protection regulator, with systemic risk responsibilities being assigned to the solvency regulator. Read More
BOOK
David de Ferranti, Anthony J. Ody and with Justin Jacinto and Graeme Ramshaw, March 01, 2009
This perceptive book emphasizes the need for an overall analytical framework that can be applied to different countries to help analyze the current situation, identify potential areas for improvement, and assess their relative feasibility and the steps needed to promote them. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert E. Litan, February 17, 2009, The Wall Street Journal
Given the jerky path of the bailout efforts by two administrations over the past 18 months, it isn’t surprising others would want a crack. Robert Litan and Martin Baily say the teetering U.S. regulatory system is the place to start fixing. The Wall Street Journal talked with Litan to find out why the stimulus should start with regulators. Read More
BOOK
David B. Sandalow, February 01, 2009
This important book examines the role that the U.S. government can and should play
in promoting the widespread use of plug-in electric vehicles. Read More