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.

April 9, 2012

Recovering from the Bubble Economy: Jobs, Wages and Unemployment

7 p.m.
University of Oregon
Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics
Ford Alumni Center
Giustina Ballroom
1515 Agate Street
Eugene, OR 97403

CEPR Co-Director Dean Baker took part in the Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics' public affairs speaker series titled "In the Shadows of the Great Recession: Recovery and Inequality." Dean was joined by University of Oregon Economist Mark Thoma. More information can be found on the event's website.

April 4, 2012

99 to 1: How Wealth Inequality Is Wrecking the World and What We Can Do About It

6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Busboys & Poets
2021 14th Street NW
Washington, D.C., 20009

CEPR Board Member and IPS Fellow Chuck Collins discussed and signed his new book about "How Wealth Inequality Is Wrecking the World and What We Can Do About It." CEPR Co-Director Dean Baker moderated the event. Co-sponsors included IPS’ Inequality and the Common Good and New Economy Working Group projects, Teaching for Change bookstore, Busboys & Poets, Faith & Money Network, Empower DC, Democracy Collaborative, United for A Fair Economy, and Center for Economic and Policy Research. For more info, visit the event's website.

April 2, 2012

Occupy the Future

1 p.m.
Carnegie Institute of Washington
1530 P Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20005

The National Occupation of Washington, D.C., which begins on March 30 and ends on April 30, will include protests, music and art, but its anchor is education of the movement. The major educational activities begin on April 2 with the "Control the Corporation" conference at the Carnegie Institute of Washington. The conference, organized by the Center for the Study of Responsive Law, included how people can work toward controlling corporations' impact on elections, slow privatization, create better-paying jobs and mobilize for the future. CEPR Co-Director Dean Baker took part in a panel discussion called "Occupy the Future" at 1 p.m. The full schedule is available on the conference website. Please register in advance at http://csrl.org to help planning for food and space.

March 30, 2012

The Future of Entitlement Programs

8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, DC 20008

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid have been staples of American life for many decades but now their futures are threatened. As part of the 2012 Annual Conference of the American Society on Aging, taking place March 28 through April 1, this panel addressed the challenges these programs face, and explored the issue of whether there will be enough wealth in the American economy to support these programs. Sessions included The Future of Social Security, The Future of Medicare and Medicaid and The Politics of the Future of Entitlements. Registration and session info can be found on the event's website.

March 29, 2012

Investment in Private Markets: Rewards, Risks and Implications for Economic Growth and Jobs - Good Jobs? - Creation

1:30 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Harvard Law School
2036 Millstein East Campus
Wasserstein Building
1563 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138

CEPR Senior Economist Eileen Appelbaum chaired a presentation titled "Investment in Private Markets: Rewards, Risks and Implications for Economic Growth and Jobs - Good Jobs? - Creation" as part of Harvard Law School's 10th Annual Pensions and Capital Stewardship conference, March 28-29. Presenters included Tom Rotherham, director of Hermes Equity Ownership Services, Ltd.; Stephen Sleigh, fund director of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers National Pension Fund; and Michael Swack, professor at the University of New Hampshire and research faculty at the Carsey Institute. For more information, visit the event site.

March 27, 2012

Haiti Briefing: Haitian American Students Brief on IDP Camps

1 - 3 p.m.
Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2456
45 Independence Ave SW
Washington, D.C.

Haiti is beginning a new rainy season, yet again cholera is threatening the almost 500,000 people still in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps. It will also bring in a third and fourth wave of cholera that will infect those most vulnerable to the disease. On top of the physical climate, the political climate has also heated up. With the abrupt resignation of the prime minister, the parliamentary elections are at a standstill and reports of violence in IDP camps, those least able to protect themselves from cholera are going to find themselves in an even greater precarious situation. Researchers held a briefing to highlight realities and dispel misconceptions about Haiti’s IDPs.

March 27, 2012

The Latin American Spring

12:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Brandeis University
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Glynn Amphitheater
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02454

CEPR Co-Director Mark Weisbrot took part in a discussion on the prospects for Latin American development. The event was sponsored by The Latin American Working Group. Contact Michael Galhouse ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more information. A video of the event is available below or after the jump.