The Political Power of Austerity
The US Response to the Recession
Tuesday 17 April, 2012
4 - 6pm, $0
New School, Vera List Center
6 East 16 Street, Room 1103
Policymakers around the world have embraced austerity measures as the solution to the continuing economic malaise. Yet, the evidence of recent experience does not support this prescription. With the US election looming large, the public needs to understand the state of the economy we're in, and what can and should be done to create stability and growth.
Looking to Europe, the human toll of the austerity measures imposed in Greece and Spain, Ireland and Latvia call for a more balanced approach. In the case of Greece, highly contested austerity policies are failing even the primary objective of halting the growth of its national debt. By contrast, governments across Latin America have demonstrated that strong social and labor policies can and do guard against the worst effects of a recession.
Panelists and Presentations:
Richard McGahey, Professor of Professional Practice, Public Policy and Economics, Urban Policy Program, New School for Public Engagement
"The North Can Learn from the South"
Michael Cohen, Professor of International Affairs and Director, Graduate Program in International Affairs, New School for Public Engagement
"Labor Market, Labor Institutions and Social Protection in Latin America"
Roxana Maurizio, Researcher-Professor, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento and CONICET, Argentina, and visiting CONICET Fellow at GPIA
"Madmen in Authority and the Scientific Foundations of Austerity Policies"
William Milberg, Professor of Economics and Chair, Department of Economics, New School for Social Research
Moderator: Teresa Ghilarducci, Professor of Economics, New School for Social Research
Looking to Europe, the human toll of the austerity measures imposed in Greece and Spain, Ireland and Latvia call for a more balanced approach. In the case of Greece, highly contested austerity policies are failing even the primary objective of halting the growth of its national debt. By contrast, governments across Latin America have demonstrated that strong social and labor policies can and do guard against the worst effects of a recession.
Panelists and Presentations:
Richard McGahey, Professor of Professional Practice, Public Policy and Economics, Urban Policy Program, New School for Public Engagement
"The North Can Learn from the South"
Michael Cohen, Professor of International Affairs and Director, Graduate Program in International Affairs, New School for Public Engagement
"Labor Market, Labor Institutions and Social Protection in Latin America"
Roxana Maurizio, Researcher-Professor, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento and CONICET, Argentina, and visiting CONICET Fellow at GPIA
"Madmen in Authority and the Scientific Foundations of Austerity Policies"
William Milberg, Professor of Economics and Chair, Department of Economics, New School for Social Research
Moderator: Teresa Ghilarducci, Professor of Economics, New School for Social Research