Global Middle Class Initiative: Recent and Upcoming Events

Why shouldn't people who deplete our natural assets have to pay, and those who protect them reap profits? Conservation-minded entrepreneurs and others around the world are beginning to ask just that question, as the increasing scarcity of natural resources becomes a tangible threat to our own lives and our hopes for our children. The New Economy of Nature brings together Gretchen Daily, one of the world's leading ecologists, with Katherine Ellison, a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist, to offer an engaging and… more

In 2000, the New America Foundation conducted a pioneering series of seminars on the relations between the financial sector and environmental sustainability. The results of that series, which opened up a wide range of issues, are summarized in A Financial Architecture for Sustainable Development.

NAF maintains a deep and continuing interest in environmental issues and is undertaking a second series of discussions and papers on International Finance and the Environment, again supported by the C. S. Mott Foundation. The… more

The Chastening is the first book to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the International Monetary Fund during an extraordinarily turbulent period in modern economic history. Based on interviews with more than 200 officials at the IMF, the World Bank, the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Reserve, the White House and many foreign governments, The Chastening recounts the struggle to stem the financial crisis that flared in Thailand in mid-1997 and spread to three continents. Its disquieting conclusion: at a time when… more

8:45 A.M. REGISTRATION, PASTRIES, AND COFFEE

9:15 A.M. THE SAFEGUARD DECISION: WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR AMERICA'S BEST STEEL PRODUCERS

Eileen Bradner, Trade Counsel, Nucor and Partner, Wiley Rein & Fielding

9:30 A.M. NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE STEEL DEBATE

David A. Hartquist, Counsel, Specialty Steel Industry of North America

Andrew G. Sharkey III, President & CEO, American Iron & Steel Institute

Alan Tonelson, Research Fellow, U.S. Business & Industry Council Foundation

9:50 A.M. KEYNOTE

The Honorable Amo Houghton (R-NY-31), Member, House Ways & Means Committee, and Founding Chairman, Republican Main… more

Modern societies face a cruel paradox: Fast-paced technological and economic innovations may deliver unrivalled prosperity, but they also render rich nations vulnerable to crippling, unanticipated attacks. By relying on intricate networks and concentrating vital assets in small geographic clusters, advanced Western nations only amplify the destructive power of terrorists -- and the psychological and financial damage they can inflict.

Thomas Homer-Dixon is Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at the University of Toronto, and Associate Professor in the… more

Information Technologies and Global Politics: The Changing Scope of Power and Goveranance, edited by James Rosenau and J. P. Singh, studies the relationship between information technologies and global politics. Key issue-areas are carefully examined: security (including information warfare and terrorism); global consumption and production; international telecommunications; culture and identity formation; human rights; humanitarian assistance; the environment; and biotechnology. Three major conclusions are offered. First, the nation-state must now confront, support, or coexist with other international actors: non-governmental and… more

Glen Fukushima leads operations in Japan for Cadence Design Systems, Inc. Before assuming his current position in October 2000, Fukushima was President and Representative Director of Japan operations at Arthur D. Little, Inc., one of the world's premier management consulting firms. Until May 1998, he served as Vice President of AT&T Japan Ltd., the wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Corporation. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of AT&T JENS, a leading Internet service provider. Prior… more

and commentary by

Karen Kornbluh, Markle Fellow, New America Foundation and former Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of the Treasury

and

Steven Clemons, Executive Vice President, New America Foundation

The Enron scandal has raised the awareness of the accounting profession in the minds of millions of Americans. Where does the industry go from here? Is the separation of the accounting and consulting businesses enough or will the industry have to take additional steps to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest? Was Enron a rogue elephant or does the federal government need to put into place new laws and regulations to restore investor confidence? … more

8:30 a.m. Registration and Coffee

8:45 a.m. Welcoming Remarks

Steven Clemons, Executive Vice President, New America Foundation

9:00 a.m. Making Losers into Winners: Trade Adjustment Assistance and U.S. Trade Policy

The Honorable Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman, Senate Finance Committee

The Honorable Susan Collins (R-ME), U.S. Senate and Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Children and Families, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions*

The Honorable Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chairman, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

9:45 a.m. America's Stake in Global Trade: Charting the Next Course

The Honorable William Reinsch, President, National Foreign… more

Akio Fujii joined the Nihon Keizai Shimbun in 1985 and has held various positions covering Financial and Economic News, including Bank of Japan and Ministry of Finance correspondent, as well as New York Bureau Correspondent. Fujii has been the Chief Correspondent for Economic Affairs in the Washington Bureau since March 1998. In Washington, Fujii covers the US and Global Economies, Economic Policy, and International Finance.

Shuji Kobayakawa will discuss the current outlook of the Japanese economy, reviewing what the Bank of Japan has done so far to help the Japanese economy and what the Bank of Japan can yet do under the current Bank of Japan Law, while comparing the policy instruments between the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve. Specifically, Mr. Kobayakawa will discuss alternative approaches to the Bank of Japan's portfolio.

Shuji Kobayakawa has been the Representative of the Bank of Japan's… more

David D. Hale is the Global Chief Economist for the Zurich Financial Services Group and its investment affiliates. In this position, he advises the group's domestic and global fund management operations on the economic outlook and a wide range of public policy issues. He joined the group following its acquisition of Kemper Corporation, where he had served as Chief Economist for many years. Mr. Hale also serves as Chairman of the Board of China Online, L.L.C., … more

Are expanding trade, globalization and corporate responsibility compatible? Do multinational corporations have an economic interest and/or moral obligation to operate in a responsible manner? Should consumers expect multinationals to operate in a responsible manner? Are governments powerless to encourage responsible corporate behaviour, given the competitive nature of the global marketplace?

The OECD recently adopted Guidelines to help multinationals operate in harmony with government policies and societal expectations. 33 governments adhere to these Guidelines. The Netherlands Parliament… more

France had traditionally played an important role, within the European Union, in past trade negotiations in the framework of the GATT. Many observers underline its ambivalent position, the strong internationalization of major companies and the opposition to globalization of parts of the French society. How will these divergent trends play out before Doha?