The Carnegie Mellon campus community is joining top minds from government, business, policy and education sectors today to take a dynamic look at the intersection of economic and social forces shaping the post-economic crisis world.
The conference will be opened by Frederick Kempe, Atlantic Council President and CEO; and James E. Rohr, Chairman & CEO, PNC Financial Services Group, and Board of Trustees, Carnegie Mellon University. Featured speakers also include U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Daniel Rooney; Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon; and the World Bank's Shaha Ali Riza and Mansoor Dailami, among others.
"The previous efforts taken by the G-20 leaders and financial authorities have been instrumental in preventing a full-scale global depression," said Alexei Monsarrat, director of the Atlantic Council's global business and economics program.
"However, the recent crisis exposed deep inequalities and structural problems in the international economic system, and they present a complex situation that will require a multifaceted solution," he said.
Monsarrat and Kiron K. Skinner, an associate professor of social and decision sciences and director of the International Relations and Politics Program at Carnegie Mellon, are leading the conference efforts.
They have defined a four-part agenda that addresses the challenges posed by globalization: (1) sources of growth and the role of innovation; (2) the role of financial regulation and trade in restoring growth; (3) educating a workforce for the 21st century economy; and (4) social and political challenges of renewing globalization.
"The issues that affect our lives are not solely economic, political or social, but are rather some combination of all of them," Skinner said. "And because these combinations vary across time, policy and region, the G-20 leadership must be armed with multidisciplinary and novel approaches to enhance financial stability, economic growth, political liberalization and political transparency."
Skinner added, "This conference and report investigates these policies by bringing together distinguished thinkers from a broad range of professions and disciplines."
On Thursday, Carnegie Mellon will host Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who will present a special keynote address to the university community, followed by an interactive panel of policy experts. The event builds on Carnegie Mellon's identity as a global university — our Heinz College program in Australia is one of a dozen degree programs offered outside the United States.
Both events require registration. Registration for the Atlantic Council event is now closed but members of the campus community can still register online for Prime Minister Rudd's address.
