Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, The Century Foundation, Demos and the Economic Policy Institute held a conference with some of the nation’s leading thinkers to discuss the critical economic choices and challenges confronting the nation. Panelists represented a range of perspectives on how to facilitate economic growth, spur public investment and reduce the national debt.
Setting the Economic Framework
Tamara Draut from Demos, Katherine McFate from the Ford Doundation, and Lawrence Mishel from the Economic Policy Institute discuss the economic framework for a discussion of American fiscal policy. The Powerpoint used in the panel is available here.
The Fiscal Squeeze on State and Local Governments
Robert Greenstein (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities) and Ezra Klein (Washington Post) discuss the dificulties of maintaining balanced budgets at the local and state level and the consequent effects on policy.
Budget Policy, Short-Term Recovery and Long-Term Growth
Goldman Sachs’ Jan Hatzius, New York Times’ Columnist and Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, and Harvard Economist Martin Feldstein discuss budget policy, short-term recovery and prospects for long-term growth, moderated by the New York Times’ Jackie Calmes.
Replenishing Revenues and Modernizing the Tax Code
Leonard Burman (Maxwell School, Syracuse University), ; John Irons (Economic Policy Institute), Henry Aaron (Brookings Institution, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities), and Ezra Klein (Washington Post) discuss the effects of tax policy on the American public and the federal balance sheet.
Strengthening Social Security and Retirement Security
Nancy Altman (Social Security Works) Teresa Ghilarducci (The New School), Robert Reischauer (Urban Institute), and Robert Kuttner (American Prospect) discuss social security policy and its relationship with American federal fiscal policy.
Reassessing our National Security Goals and Budget
Carl Conetta (Project on Defense Alternatives), David Walker (Peter G. Peterson Foundation), Cindy Williams (MIT), and Stan Collender (Qorvis) discuss the role defense spending plays in America’s fiscal security.
Next Steps for Healthcare Reform
Karen Davis (Commonwealth Fund), Maggie Mahar (Century Foundation Fellow), Bill Hoagland (CIGNA), and Robert Kuttner (American Prospect) discuss the importance of health care reform and its impact on the federal budget.
Public Investment as a Foundation for Growth
John Podesta (Center for American Progress), Robert Puentes (Brookings Institution) Eileen Appelbaum (Center for Economic and Policy Research), and Stan Collender (Qorvis) discuss long-term prospects for the federal budget and its effect on the American public.
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Background Materials
The Economic Policy Institute
Setting the Economic Framework [Powerpoint]
Fiscal Consolidation Should Wait until Economic Recovery is on Track
Putting the Public Debt in Context
Budget Deficits and Interest Rates
The Century Foundation
Deficit Disorder: Sense and Nonsense About the Federal Debt
How to Reduce Deficits and Improve the Tax System Without Hurting Most Families
The Impact of Housing and Investment Market Declines on the Wealth of Baby Boomers
Demos
Reconciling Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility
Social Security: Built to Last for Generations to Come
Trends in Revenue and the Fiscal Condition
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Federal Spending Target of 21 Percent of GDP Not Appropriate Benchmark for Deficit-Reduction Efforts
Letting High-Income Tax Cuts Expire is Proper Response to Nation’s Short- and Long-Term Challenges
Top Ten Facts About Social Security on the Program’s 75th Anniversary