Dr. Bruce Yandle
Professor Emeritus and BB&T Scholar Clemson University
Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Economic Mercatus Center at George Mason University
The economy continues to give mixed signs of recovery. While manufacturing in the U.S. has expanded for the fourth month, the U.S. jobless rate jumped up 0.4 percentage point to 10.2% in October. However the latest preliminary unemployment report indicates the rate dipped to 10% in November.
To keep Congressional staffers up to date on the current economic situation, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University hosts quarterly briefings that survey the economic scene. Specific attention is paid to GDP data, employment, inflation, and interest rates, all conveyed in a way that is understandable to the economist and non-economist alike. This “birds-eye-view” of the economy will be valuable to staffers interested in promoting policies intended to aid economic performance.
Topics to be discussed shall include:
• How has the economy fared overall in the past quarter and what can we expect from the economy in the next quarter?
• How has the labor market changed across states and who is the best and the worst off?
• What has the weakening dollar meant for the economic outlook?
Hosted by Dr. Bruce Yandle, one of our most popular speakers, these quarterly briefings are free of charge and open to all senior congressional staffers. Bruce Yandle is a Professor Emeritus and the BB&T Scholar at Clemson University, where he has been a faculty member since 1969. From 1976 to 1978, he was a senior economist on the staff of the President’s Council on Wage and Price Stability, where he reviewed and analyzed newly proposed regulations. In addition, Dr. Yandle was executive director of the Federal Trade Commission and is the author or co-author of numerous books and articles. He received his Ph.D. and M.B.A. from Georgia State University and his A.B. degree from Mercer University.
Arnold Kling, PhD Former Economist
Federal Reserve and Freddie Mac Member
Mercatus Center Financial Markets Working Group
Twelve months after the failure of Lehman Brothers, introduction of TARP, a freeze-up of interbank lending, and the beginning of a stock market roller coaster ride, what do we know about what really happened? What really caused the housing bubble and how did that lead to the crisis? If the crisis was the result of many mistakes, how should we go about thinking about what kinds of mistakes were made and who is really at fault?
Russ Roberts, PhD and Arnold Kling, PhD present the findings of their in-depth investigations of the causes and nature of this unique economic event.
Dr. Bruce Yandle
Professor Emeritus and BB&T Scholar Clemson University
Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Economic Mercatus Center at George Mason University
With unemployment slightly declining and GDP expected to rise, Americans are beginning to hope that the economy is on the mend. In July, the unemployment rate came in at 9.4%, a tenth of a percent lower than the previous month while the Dow Jones average moved above 9,000. These positive changes signal an improvement however economists and policymakers still fear another downturn.
To keep Congressional staffers up to date on the current economic situation, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University hosts quarterly briefings that survey the economic scene. Specific attention is paid to GDP data, employment, inflation, and interest rates, all conveyed in a way that is understandable to the economist and non-economist alike. This “birds-eye-view” of the economy will be valuable to staffers interested in promoting policies intended to aid economic performance.
Topics to be discussed will include:
Have we hit the bottom of the recession?
Will unemployment continue to improve?
How do each of the 50 states compare in this tough economic climate?
Which states are leading the charge and which states lag behind?
What can we expect from the American Economy in the third quarter of 2009?
Hosted by Dr. Bruce Yandle , one of our most popular speakers, these quarterly briefings are free of charge and open to all senior congressional staffers.
Bruce Yandle is a Professor Emeritus and the BB&T Scholar at Clemson University, where he has been a faculty member since 1969. From 1976 to 1978, he was a senior economist on the staff of the President’s Council on Wage and Price Stability, where he reviewed and analyzed newly proposed regulations. In addition, Dr. Yandle was executive director of the Federal Trade Commission and is the author or co-author of numerous books and articles. He received his Ph.D. and M.B.A. from Georgia State University and his A.B. degree from Mercer University.
Russ Roberts
Professor of Economics George Mason University
J. Fish and Lillian F. Smith Professor of Economics Chair Mercatus Center at George Mason University
For years, Russ Roberts has led a seminar on the fundamentals of trade, taking the lessons from basic economics and applying them to our economic situation. In this revised seminar, Roberts adds new insights that will help participants understand just what’s at stake with trade policy and how traditional models of trade can mislead.
Join us we address such questions as:
How does trade create prosperity?
What is at stake when we alter our trade policy? Why is trade policy more volatile during a recession?
What’s wrong with Buy American or Buy Local? Who wins and loses when trade is restricted?
Eileen Norcross Senior Research Fellow Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Jerry Brito, JD
Senior Research Fellow Mercatus Center at George Mason University
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, one of the largest government spending projects since the Great Depression. When the $789 billion plan was passed, the Obama Administration made a pledge “to spend wisely, reform bad habits and do their business in the light of day.” To follow through on that commitment, the government created the website, recovery.gov which enables every citizen to monitor the progress of the recovery.
Almost five months have gone by since the bill was passed. As Congress’s August recess approaches, policy makers are preparing to return to their districts where their constituents will hold them accountable. Even with recovery.gov up and running, the stimulus and its transparency remains a subject of debate. To help congressional staffers better understand the current status of the Stimulus and Stimulus Transparency, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University will host a panel with Eileen Norcross and Jerry Brito, co-creators of StimulusWatch.org and Senior Research Fellows at the Mercatus Center. Join us as we address such questions as:
What is the current status of the Stimulus Plan? What portion of the money has been spent or committed?
What does stimulus transparency mean for members of congress and their constituents? What are the current activities of the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board?
How can citizens track the stimulus? What is being done with regards to the Recovery.gov effort?
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