June 12, 2012

Roundtable Discussion on Private Equity

11:00 - 12:15 p.m.
Georgetown University
Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor
209 Maguire Hall
37th and O Streets NW
Washington, D.C. 20007

As part of the Labor Research and Action Network National Conference, hosted by Georgetown University's Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, CEPR Senior Economist Eileen Appelbaum took part in a roundtable discussion on private equity. The discussion was chaired by Matteo Colombi of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. 

June 11, 2012

Argentina's 2001 Default: Myths and Realities

6:00 p.m.
Embassy of Argentina
1600 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Washington, DC, 20009

CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot spoke at a reception and book presentation on Argentina's 2001 debt default. A video of the event is available below or after the jump.

June 7, 2012

The Billion Dollar Question: What is the Impact of Private Equity on Companies and Workers?

Park Plaza Boston
50 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116

CEPR Senior Economist Eileen Appelbaum took part in a presentation titled "The Billion Dollar Question:What is the Impact of Private Equity on Companies and Workers?"

Presentation (.pptx)

May 23, 2012

Moving to a Caring Economy: New Indicators of Social Wealth

5 - 7 p.m.
The Embassy of Finland
3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008

The Center for Economic Policy and Research co-sponsored an event with Dr. Riane Eisler, president of the Center for Partnership Studies, Erwin de Leon of The Urban Institute and Dr. Sara Melendez on "Moving to a Caring Economy: New Indicators of Social Wealth." Other sponsors included the National Association of Mothers Centers, National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO), GenderAction, Family Values @ Work, and Digital Sisters. More information can be found on the event website.

April 28, 2012

The Hunger Games and Real World Economic Injustice

2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
University of Illinois at Chicago
725 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, IL 60607

Some critics see The Hunger Games as an allegory for today: staggering world poverty amidst growing economic inequality. Part of Global Activism 2012, this panel explored real-world economic injustices and possibilities for creating a more equitable and fair system locally and globally. It took a closer look at globalism, militarism and the impact of the economic crisis. CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot took part in the discussion. Also participating in the panel: Kathy Kelly, co-coordinator of Creative Voices for Non-violence and author of Other Lands Have Dreams: from Baghdad to Pekin Prison, and Touissaint Losier, a doctoral candidate in history at the University of Chicago and a Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign organizer. Harishi Patel, a cultural organizer with Jane Addams Hull-House Museum and Chicago activist, moderated.

April 19, 2012

The Eurozone Recession: Are There Alternatives?

2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
The World Bank
MC-C1-100
1818 H St, NW
Washington, D.C., 20006

CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot recently debated Mahmood Pradhan, Deputy Director of the IMF’s European Department, on the eurozone crisis and strategies for its resolution. While Pradhan argued for strategies that would lower labor costs, Mark argued that the European authorities, including the European Central Bank, should reverse course, intervene to lower long-term interest rates, and support stimulus programs for economic recovery; and that some governments should consider leaving the euro if the authorities insist on continued austerity and high unemployment. A video of the event is available below or after the jump.

Mark's PowerPoint Presentation (.pptx)

April 18, 2012

Congressional Briefing on Cholera in Haiti, Co-sponsored by the O'Neill Institute and CEPR

2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2226
45 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20515

In October of 2010, less than ten months after being hit by a devastating earthquake, Haiti experienced a cholera epidemic that quickly spread throughout the small nation. The waterborne disease has now killed at least 7,050 Haitians and sickened over 531,000 others. Meanwhile, nearly half a million earthquake victims remain without adequate housing, and Haitians continue to face one of the most challenging clean water and sanitation situations in the world. As the rainy season sets in, the country is experiencing a notable increase in the number of deaths attributed to cholera, according to the UN.

This congressional briefing, co-sponsored by the Georgetown Law Center's O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and CEPR, examines U.S. and international efforts to address what has become the world’s worst active cholera epidemic. Panelists discuss what urgent measures are needed to contain the spread of the disease, as well as longer-term proposals for preventing cholera from becoming endemic to Haiti. Finally, panelists consider the role of international legal mechanisms for protecting health and human rights violations in Haiti’s greater post-earthquake context.

April 13, 2012

Debts and Deficits: Combating Recession in the U.S., Latin America, and Eurozone

12 p.m.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University YMCA
1001 S. Wright St.
Champaign, IL 61820

CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot participated in a forum on macroeconomic policies in the United States, Europe and developing countries since the world financial crisis and recession of 2008-2009, to see what kinds of policy mistakes and public misunderstanding have limited economic and social progress. A video of the event is available below or after the jump.

April 11, 2012

Latvia's Recession and Recovery: Are There Lessons for the Eurozone?

1 - 2:30 p.m.
AFSCME
1st Floor Board Room
1625 L Street, NW
Washington, D.C., 20036

Latvia suffered some of the worst losses of output and employment during the world financial crisis and recession (2008-2009), pursuing a strategy of "internal devaluation" while keeping its currency pegged to the euro.  Some have argued that these losses represent a severe policy failure; while others argue that the country's economic recovery since the 4th quarter of 2009, and other achievements, show that the strategy succeeded. This forum presented these two opposing views.

Mark's How Latvia Came through the Financial Crisis and author of The Last Shall Be the First: The East European Financial Crisis.

The video is available below or after the jump.

April 11, 2012

Tax Equity: Paying Fair

12 - 1:30 p.m.
Capitol Visitors Center
Room SVC 201-00
1 1st Street NW
Washington, D.C.

Fierce debate over the proper economic role, most efficient system—and fairness—of taxation will dominate the political landscape of 2012, from the presidential campaign trail to the looming end-of-year Congressional budget crisis. In partnership with the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the Americans for Democratic Action Education Fund will present an all-star panel on tax reform, featuring the nation’s leading advocates for a tax system that adequately funds public needs and truly reflects American values. CEPR Co-Director Dean Baker participated. Other panelists included Elspeth Gilmore of Resource Generation, Mike Lapham of the Responsible Wealth campaign and United for a Fair Economy, Chuck Marr of the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Robert McIntyre of Citizens for Tax Justice; and Rebecca Thiess of the Economic Policy Institute. The event was streamed live here.