UPCOMING EVENT
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Washington, DC
On Wednesday, February 10, Carol Graham will explain how measures of happiness may be more novel barometers for well-being than other, more easily defined variables such as income or wealth. Fred Barbash, senior editor at POLITICO, will moderate the discussion. Read More
VIDEO
Mark Muro, February 05, 2010
Even in lean times, President Obama’s 2011 budget proposal favors basic science and applied research. This signals that the administration is really serious about reigniting the American entrepreneurial spirit, explains Mark Muro. More jobs and more investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs could also be realized in expanding research and development.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Gary Burtless, February 05, 2010, The Brookings Institution
The Bureau of Labor Statistics employment report for January contains mixed signals about the job market’s emergence from the recession. The household survey showed a sizeable drop in unemployment. Gary Burtless believes that the fall in unemployment cannot be explained by a rise in the number of discouraged workers or any further decline in the labor force participation rate. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Katz, February 04, 2010, 'The Next American Economy' Conference, Palo Alto, California
The recession has unveiled an economy dangerously out of whack: frenzied with consumption, wasteful in its use of energy, more adept at increasing inequity than sharing prosperity and more successful at exacerbating rather than easing divisions between Wall Street and Main Street, says Bruce Katz. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Washington, DC
President Obama’s budget for the federal government landed on Capitol Hill February 1 with a plan to freeze non-military discretionary spending for three years beginning in 2011. On Wednesday, February 3, Isabel Sawhill discussed the release of the federal budget and what it will mean for the coming fiscal year in a live web chat moderated by POLITICO’s senior editor Fred Barbash. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Isabel V. Sawhill, February 03, 2010, The Brookings Institution
President Obama’s $3.8 trillion budget for the federal government landed on Capitol Hill this week with proposed spending cuts and freezes, increases for defense and homeland security spending, and a new jobs plan – along with a projected deficit of 1.55 trillion for this year. On Wednesday, February 3, Isabel Sawhill discussed the release of the federal budget and what it will mean for the coming fiscal year in a live web chat moderated by POLITICO’s senior editor Fred Barbash. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mark Muro and Sarah Rahman, February 03, 2010, The Brookings Institution
The Obama administration’s FY2011 budget request unveils several proposals to support regional industry or innovation “clusters” through multiple federal departments, which could put the U.S. on par with other nations in providing support to these systems of business development. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William A. Galston, February 01, 2010, The Brookings Institution
William Galston looks at how President Obama's FY 2011 budget tackles deficit reduction and fiscal restraint. Galston notes that most economists believe the recovery is weak, and the possibility of a double-dip recession remains, therefore another year of economic stimulus is likely necessary. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Ron Haskins, February 01, 2010, The Arena: Politico
In a recent webchat, Ron Haskins addressed the issue of what Republicans should be doing to improve their own standing with the public. Haskins believes that Republicans need an agenda first and foremost. But a good way for them to start presenting themselves as a bold and confident party, he says, is by telling the nation they pledge to solve the deficit crisis by both cutting government spending and by increasing revenues. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Sarah A. Binder, January 30, 2010, The Monkey Cage
Ben Bernanke begins his second term as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve. Yet, as recently as a week ago, Bernanke’s reconfirmation seemed to be on the ropes. Bernanke’s weak showing will increase the resolve of Fed critics to restructure the nation’s financial architecture, stripping the Fed of key powers and scrutinizing its decision-making, asserts Sarah Binder. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Isabel V. Sawhill, January 29, 2010, The Brookings Institution
Following the release of President Obama's budget, Isabel Sawhill believes there will be a lot of hand-wringing about the possible economic fallout from a virtually unprecedented accumulation of debt. Not only will this string of future deficits have dire economic consequences, she says, but will also reduce public confidence in their government. Ultimately, the budget’s insufficient proposals suggest that the current administration will be criticized for moving the goal posts on deficit reduction and for doing far too little to restore fiscal balance. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Frank Samuel, January 29, 2010, The Brookings Institution
A recent report authored by Frank E. Samuel documents the Great Lakes region’s strong performance on metrics linked to new enterprise creation -- research and development, new patents, technology and talent generation; but also points to the low entrepreneurship and new business start-up rates due, in part, to a significant absence of venture capital invested in new businesses in the region. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, January 28, 2010
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
Washington, DC
President Obama’s State of the Union address came at a critical time for his administration and for the country. On January 28, Brookings hosted a discussion of the address and its impact on the policy agenda in areas such as the economy, health care, foreign policy and climate change. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Henry J. Aaron, January 28, 2010, National Journal
Henry Aaron writes that President Obama's State of the Union address contained no surprises on health reform, but it did display resolve. The way forward, according to Aaron, involves not only the Senate and House passing a mutually agreeable health reform bill, but more importantly, the need to overcome the prevailing public mood of distrust and skepticism about health reform. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, Grover J. "Russ" Whitehurst and Isabel V. Sawhill, January 28, 2010, The Brookings Institution
On Janaury 27, President Obama delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. Scholars from around the halls of Brookings offer their thoughts on the speech and on various issues the president addressed, from updating the nation's high-speed rail infrastructure and investing in the education and skills of the American people, to the budget deficit and the nation's economic growth.
Read More