Bernard L. Schwartz – Economic Policy Development

New America Foundation

Whither the American Economy?
A National Policy Forum On The Economy, The Housing Bubble and What To Do About Recessionary Fears

Responding to the damage caused by the slowdown in housing, the subprime mortgage crisis, and fears of a U.S. recession, the New America Foundation held a national policy forum on the need for a new era of public investment on Friday, November 30, 2007.

Despite the recent economic slowdown, New America Foundation board member Bernard L. Schwartz opened the conference with an optimistic message. The dynamism of the American economy, Schwartz argues, bolstered by robust public investment, can overcome present challenges. Schwartz and Economic Growth Program director Sherle Schwenninger outline a strategy for rebuilding the American economic engine in “Public Investment Works,” which appears in the fall issue of Democracy: A Journal of Ideas.

Video of Schwartz's opening presentation is available below. For more information and additional multimedia of the conference, visit the New America Foundation's web site.

Participants

Steve Coll: President & CEO, New America Foundation; Former Managing Editor, Washington Post
Steven Clemons: Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation and publisher, www.TheWashingtonNote.com
James K. Galbraith: Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations at LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin
David Hale: Chairman, Hale Advisors; Former Global Chief Economist, Zurich Financial Services Group
Simon Johnson: Economic Counsellor and Director, Research Department, International Monetary Fund; Publisher, Simon Johnson's IMF Research Blog
Zachary Karabell: EVP, Chief Economist, Portfolio Manager at Fred Alger Management
Janet Kavinoky: Director, Transportation Infrastructure/Congressional Public Affairs Division of U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Joel Kotkin: Senior Fellow, New America Foundation; Author, The City: A Global History and the New Geography
Desmond Lachman: Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; Former Managing Director, Salomon Smith Barney
Steve Perlstein: Economics Correspondent, Washington Post
Bernard L. Schwartz: Chairman & CEO, BLS Investments; Chairman of the Board, Third Way; Retired Chairman & CEO, Loral Space & Communications; Co-Author, “Public Investment Works,” Democracy: A Journal of Ideas (Fall 2007)
Sherle R. Schwenninger: Director, Global Economic Policy Initiative, New America Foundation; Co-Author, “Public Investment Works,” Democracy: A Journal of Ideas (Fall 2007)

November 30, 2007

Whither the American Economy?
A National Policy Forum On The Economy, The Housing Bubble and What To Do About Recessionary Fears

October 17, 2007

Washington Post: Sustaining an Infrastructure for Success

Fall 2007

An Essay: The New American Economy and the Policy Debate

February 1, 2007

A capital investment for public investment, By Sherle R. Schwenninger, New America Foundation