Events Detail

 

      Furchtgott-Roth, Lazear, Hunter, Scranton

     Hunter, Shapiro, Levy, and Moore

Furchtgott-Roth, Rosen, McNelly, and McKenny

Trade, Job Churn, and the American Worker

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

1015 15th Street, NW, Sixth Floor

Washington, DC 20005

Trade has become an electoral piñata.  In a time of stagnant wages, economic insecurity and a globalized economy, Democratic presidential candidates have jockeyed with each other to be the most critical of NAFTA and other trade agreements.  Conflict between President Bush and congressional Democrats over the Colombia trade accord has resulted in the demise of the "fast-track" arrangements that have governed U.S. trade policy for decades.  Meanwhile, this summer Congress will need to re-authorize one of the main safety nets for trade-displaced workers, Trade Adjustment Assistance, which Senators Clinton and Obama wish to expand and which Senator McCain believes should be restructured.

With the post-war bipartisan consensus on trade fraying, Hudson Institute is bringing together two panels of experts to explore the public anxiety over trade and job churn, the roles of trade and technology in the dynamic U.S. economy, the impact of trade policy, and the opportunities for helping American workers prosper in an increasingly globalized, knowledge-based economy.

The first panel focused on the effect of trade and technology on the U.S. economy and opportunities for American workers.  It featured Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, former Under Secretary of Commerce in the Clinton administration, and author of "Futurecast"; Philip Levy (click here to see Mr. Levy's presentation) Resident Scholar with the American Enterprise Institute and former Council of Economic Advisors economist; and Michael Moore (click here to see Mr. Moore's presentation), Director for George Washington University's Institute for International Economic Policy and former Council of Economic Advisors trade economist.  The panel was moderated by Rod Hunter, Hudson Senior Fellow and former National Security Council Senior Director.

The second panel focused on how to enhance opportunities for American workers.  It featured James McKenny (click here to see Mr. McKenny's presentation), Director of Economic Development at the American Association of Community Colleges, Jennifer McNelly, Vice President, Education and the Workforce, Manufacturing Institute, National Association of Manufacturers; and Howard Rosen, (click here to see Mr. Rosen's presentation) Resident Visiting Fellow with the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and was moderated by Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of Hudson's Center on Employment Policy and former Chief Economist for the Department of Labor.

The conference concluded with a keynote address by Edward Lazear, the Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers.  Chairman Lazear delivered an address entitled "The U.S. Economy and Decoupling."

What's Driving Job Churn?

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Robert Shapiro

Sonecon, LLC

Philip Levy

American Enterprise Institute

Michael Moore

George Washington University

Rod Hunter

Hudson Institute (Moderator)

How Can American Workers Prosper?

10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

James McKenney

American Association of Community Colleges

Jennifer McNelly

National Association of Manufacturers

Howard Rosen

Peterson Institute

Diana Furchtgott-Roth

Hudson Institute (Moderator)

Keynote Address:  "The U.S. Economy and Decoupling"

11:45 a.m – 12:30 pm

Edward Lazear

Council of Economic Advisers

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

1015 15th Street, NW, Sixth Floor

Washington, DC 20005