Making Globalization Work for All Americans | Bernard Schwartz Forums on Economic Policy | A New Economic Strategy | The Green Project | Infrastructure | 21st Century Skills | U.S. Trade Policy
Making Globalization Work for All Americans:
NDN’s Globalization Initiative is an ongoing effort to provide a new narrative and set of policy recommendations that address the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy and our workers. While globalization benefits the U.S. economy in terms of GDP growth and productivity gains, many Americans are not prospering in this new economic era. NDN is committed to making globalization work for all Americans by offering an economic strategy that would modernize our health care and energy policies; invest in our workers, students, and infrastructure; and foster and accelerate innovation across the economy. This economic strategy also includes measures to address our immigration system and ensure universal and affordable access to computers and broadband.
Globalization Initiative programs include the Bernard Schwartz Forums on Economic Policy; the Green Project, headed by NDN Fellow Michael Moynihan; a series of papers on 21st century skills; a series of symposiums on the future of U.S. trade policy; polling and analysis on American voters’ views on the economy and globalization; and opportunities to engage leading policymakers, Members of Congress, and presidential candidates in the debate on globalization.
NDN’s Globalization Initiative is chaired by Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, former chief economic advisor to the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs in the second Clinton Administration. Maggie Barker is the Policy Director.
For additional information on NDN’s Globalization Initiative, please visit our blog for our most up-to-date thinking or contact Maggie Barker at 202-384-1213 or mbarker@ndn.org.
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Bernard Schwartz Forums on Economic Policy:
The Bernard Schwartz Forums on Economic Policy focus on the various policy issues raised by globalization. These forums are an opportunity for experts, scholars, and business leaders to discuss the impact of globalization on the U.S. and world economies and to contribute to NDN’s work to advance an innovative national economic strategy that makes globalization work for all Americans.
NDN announces expansion of Globalization Initiative, Launches Schwartz Forums on Economic Policy
Bernard Schwartz Forums on Economic Policy - Three Major Essays:
The New Landscape of Globalization: The Real Foundations of American
Prosperity in the 21st Century (June 20, 2007)
In this seminal paper, Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chair of NDN’s Globalization Initiative, presents a fresh analysis of
the fundamental dynamics of globalization and how they affect U.S. growth, productivity, wages and job
creation. He argues that to face the new challenges of globalization, policy makers need to modernize health
care and energy, pursue a serious investment agenda in education and human capital, foster and accelerate
innovation by promoting the formation of new businesses and increasing basic support for research and
development, and increase investment in infrastructure.
Investing in Our Common Future: U.S. Infrastructure (November 13, 2007)
This far-reaching paper by NDN Fellow Michael Moynihan proposes a set of measures to restore our national
political will and improve funding mechanisms to rebuild and advance our aging infrastructure. He also
proposes a GREEN Act to require that federal infrastructure and buildings meet a higher set of environmental
standards that not only address issues such as global warming but also establish American leadership in
green technologies of the future.
The Idea-Based Economy and Globalization: The Real Foundations of American Prosperity in the 21st
Century (January 23, 2008)
In this essay, Dr. Shapiro examines how and why U.S. companies and workers lead the world in developing
and applying new intellectual property, and why these leads in innovation constitute a critical U.S. advantage
in globalization. He also shares his recommendations for preserving U.S. advantages in IP and international
trade, improving U.S. infrastructure, addressing rising health care and energy costs, and pursuing a serious
investment agenda in education and human capital.
Schwartz Forum with Rep. Barney Frank (May 20, 2008)
Rep. Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, addressed the NDN community on the economy and the markets, as well as his work to advance legislation that addresses the economic downturn caused by the housing and credit crises. Under Chairman Frank’s leadership, members of the Financial Services Committee introduced legislation to combat the unprecedented rise in foreclosures and the associated impact on cities and states.
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A New Economic Strategy for America:
In addition to the Bernard Schwartz essay series on globalization and the economy, NDN offers detailed and comprehensive economic analysis, polling, and briefs that identify developments in the U.S. economy and help to bolster our case for an unprecedented economic strategy that makes globalization work for all Americans.
NDN Endorses the Global Poverty Act (April 30, 2008)
NDN is endorsing the Global Poverty Act, which was introduced by U.S Rep.
Adam Smith (D-WA) and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last
year. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has introduced similar legislation in the
U.S. Senate. This legislation would require the President to develop and
implement a comprehensive strategy to further the U.S. foreign policy
objective of cutting extreme poverty in half by 2015.
Video Interview of Dr. Robert Shapiro and Simon Rosenberg on the Economy (March 19, 2008)
In this timely video, Simon Rosenberg, NDN President interviews Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chair of
NDN's Globalization Interview. Dr. Shapiro presents a narrative that sets out three distinct problems
in the economy: the economic slowdown, the financial and housing crisis, and the ongoing failure
of policy makers to create an economic strategy that accounts for globalization. In the Bush
Administration, for the first time in American history, GDP rose, but income and wages declined.
The Idea-Based Economy and Globalization: The Real Foundations of
American Prosperity in the 21st Century (January 23, 2008)
Dr. Shapiro's recent essay examines how and why U.S. companies and workers lead the world in
developing and applying new intellectual property, and why these leads in innovation constitute a
critical U.S. advantage in globalization. He also shares his recommendations for preserving U.S.
advantages in IP and international trade, improving U.S. infrastructure, addressing rising health
care and energy costs, and pursuing a serious investment agenda in education and human capital.
NDN Poll – American voters’ views on the economy and globalization
NDN’s comprehensive poll of American attitudes about the economy released this week makes it clear
that that the American people are frustrated with the inability of their leaders to provide an economic
framework that adequately and effectively deals with the impact of globalization, but trust Democrats far
more than Republicans to manage this difficult issue.
Memo: Clamoring for Change, Persistent Pessimism, Democrats dominating on economic issues
(November 2, 2007)
Memo: Americans’ Views of the Present and Future Economy: Anxiety and Opportunity
(November 6, 2007)
PowerPoint: Economic Strategies and Globalization (November 8, 2007)
NDN on Census Bureau’s report on U.S. income (August 29, 2007)
The Census Bureau provides the woeful numbers on the Bush Administration's economic record, a record in which median household income has declined.
NDN Applauds Increase in Federal Minimum Wage (July 19, 2007)
The newly elected Democratic Congress comes through on one of its key campaign issues - the first increase of the federal minimum wage in 10 years. NDN applauds this big win for America's families and workers.
Voters deliver a Mandate for a New Economic Strategy (November 10, 2006)
After looking at exit polls and post-election analysis, it is clear that the economy was the most important issue in the sweeping Democratic victory in the mid-term elections – even more important than Iraq. This analysis also shows that voters in key battleground states were even more worried about the economy than voters nationally, illustrating the pressing need for candidates to deliver an improved economic message and policy.
Challenging the Republican Economic Record (September 28, 2006)
Dr. Robert Shapiro and Simon Rosenberg compare how little the income of the average American family has increased over the last four years, as compared to income growth during the Clinton administration. Shapiro and Rosenberg find that the dismal Republican record has cost the average family $5,054 in income gains.
Crafting a New Economic Strategy for America (November 30, 2006)
While a great deal of attention has been paid to the failure of the new Conservatives' foreign policy, it is now also clear that their economic strategy has failed. And voters agree. On November 7, 2006, the American people delivered a clear and unmistakable mandate for action on the economy.
Keeping America Competitive, featuring U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (March 14, 2006)
The new world of Globalization is creating a dynamic in which America’s competitive advantage is fading. U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico joined NDN’s Globalization Chair Dr. Robert Shapiro to discuss the work Congress is doing to Protect America’s Competitive Edge. His recommendations included investing in science, math, and technology education, reducing health care costs, and promoting the research, development, and deployment of new technologies. Such an effort will require long-term, sustained political commitment to these goals.
Video: Globalization Panel - NDN's 2006 Annual Meeting (Jun 23, 2006)
Dr. Robert J. Shapiro, Chair of NDN's Globalization Initiative
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The Green Project:
NDN’s Green Project is a program of the Globalization Initiative that seeks to develop a legislative, regulatory and advocacy framework to address climate change, enhance energy security, and accelerate the development of green technologies to promote economic growth. This initiative is designed to serve as a bridge between key stakeholders in the new clean technology community and public leaders as we build the low-carbon economy of tomorrow. NDN Fellow Michael Moynihan directs the Green Project.
NDN Announces new Green Project (February 14, 2008)
Finding the Path Forward on Climate Legislation, featuring U.S. Sen. Jeff
Bingaman (July 9, 2008)
Solar Energy: The Case for Action (August 1, 2008)
In this comprehensive report, Michael Moynihan, NDN Fellow and Green Project Director, argues that
accelerating the rollout of solar energy must become a top economic policy priority of the United States.
The paper discusses the barriers and opportunities in regards to solar energy expansion, and presents
a series of recommendations for policy makers to unleash the power of solar energy.
Read Michael Moynihan's blog
Visit our blog to read more of our Green Project's thinking
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Investing in U.S. Infrastructure:
Only by working together can Americans reverse the decline in infrastructure that is eroding our present economy and make the forward-looking public investments needed to ensure future prosperity. As part of the Bernard Schwartz essay series, NDN Fellow Michael Moynihan released a new paper - Investing in Our Common Future: U.S. Infrastructure – that proposes measures to restore American economic greatness and make the investments necessary to rebuild and advance our nation's infrastructure. He also proposes a GREEN Act to require that federal infrastructure and buildings meet a higher set of environmental standards that not only address issues like global warming but also establish American leadership in green technologies of the future.
NDN Endorses Dodd-Hagel National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007 (May 8, 2008)
NDN President Simon Rosenberg sent a letter to U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and Chuck Hagel
(R-NE) endorsing the National Infrastructure Bank Act of 2007. This bipartisan legislation will help foster
critical investments in the nation's major infrastructure systems, which are deteriorating at an alarming rate.
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A New Commitment to 21st Century Skills:
The core of a new economic strategy for America must be a national commitment to providing our workers and children with the skills and abilities required to succeed in the globalized economy of the 21st century. To this end, NDN is releasing a series of papers that offer new and innovative ideas on steps we can take to help our children and workers right now, today. Called "A Series of Modest Proposals to Build 21st Century Skills," these papers offer affordable, easy-to-implement proposals to ensure that all Americans, young and old, have real opportunities to become truly literate with computers, the Internet and basic information technologies.
A Laptop in Every Backpack (May 1, 2007)
Jointly written by the Alec Ross of the One Economy Corporation and Simon
Rosenberg, this paper is part of the Globalization Initiative's ongoing
commitment to dealing with the challenges we face in this transition to a 21st century globalized economy,
with a focus on providing all Americans, young and old, real opportunities to become truly literate with
computers, the Internet and basic information technologies.
Tapping the Resources of America's Community Colleges: A Modest Proposal to Provide Universal
Access to Computer Training (July 26, 2007)
Dr. Robert Shapiro proposes a groundbreaking plan to ensure that all American workers have real
opportunities to build the skills necessary to operate one of the most important technologies of our time,
computers. Young Americans are increasingly adept at working with computers, but many older workers still
lack those skills. Shapiro proposes providing federal grants to America’s community colleges to keep their
computer labs opened three nights every week and staffed by instructors who would provide free instruction to
anyone who visited the lab during these additional hours. We estimate that Congress could provide every
worker in America access to IT training for about $125 million a year, less than what the U.S. spends in Iraq in
one hour.
U.S. Sen. Obama embraces key NDN proposal (November 19, 2007)
The presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama unveils an exciting new plan "to strengthen America’s
community colleges." We are proud that Sen. Obama’s campaign is advancing a plan that includes key
elements of an innovative idea recently proposed by NDN’s Globalization Initiative – federal grants to U.S.
community colleges to provide all American workers free access to Internet and computer training.
Forum: IT Skills and Training for American Workers in the 21st Century Economy (July 26, 2007)
On Thursday, July 26, 2007, NDN hosted an event in the Capitol on IT skills and training for U.S. students
and workers in the 21st century. This event focused on two proposals by NDN and One Economy to provide
students and workers the means to access the global communications network and master basic computing
skills. The first proposal was detailed in a paper released in May, A Laptop in Every Backpack, and the
second proposal, released at the event, makes the case for using community colleges as training centers for
adult workers. Our panelists included U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-CT); Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chair of
NDN's Globalization Initiative; Alec Ross of One Economy; and Misty Chase of Beyond Tobacco
(Greene County, NC).
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A More Modern Approach to U.S. Trade Policy:
Challenging President Bush on U.S.-Colombia FTA (April 7, 2008)
NDN President Simon Rosenberg today sent a letter to President Bush,
challenging his strategy on the Colombia FTA. If the Free Trade Agreement
fails, the President should know that it will be because of his willingness
to put his political party's interest ahead of national interest and because
he was unwilling and unable to do the necessary political legwork to ensure
the C-FTA's passage.
U.S. Sen. Max Baucus Delivers Major Speech to NDN on U.S.
Trade Policy (October 2, 2007)
On October 2, 2007, NDN kicked off its trade symposium series with a
speech from U.S. Sen. Max Baucus entitled, "A New Democratic Trade Policy."
In the speech, Sen. Baucus says America's next steps on trade must
be "bold and ambitious."
Statement: NDN on U.S. – Peru FTA (December 5, 2007)
NDN on Bipartisan Agreement on a New Trade Policy (May 11, 2007)
The agreement shows that this White House and the new Congress are capable of doing what the American
people want them to do – come together and offer forward-looking, pragmatic solutions to the tough problems
facing our nation today.
Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century – Crafting a Better CAFTA (June 9, 2005)
Simon Rosenberg and Dr. Robert Shapiro call on progressive policymakers to face squarely our own vision
of how globalization can and should work, as well as how America can best promote economic and political
progress by our Latin American neighbors.
Thinking About Our Trade Deficit with China (April 13, 2007)
As the United States files a major case at the World Trade Organization (WTO) charging China with
wholesale piracy of U.S. intellectual property, especially copyrights covering books, music and videos, let’s
pause and think about our trade deficit with China.
To participate in NDN’s discussion on globalization, please check out our blog or contact Maggie Barker, Globalization Initiative Policy Director, at mbarker@ndn.org.
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Press Articles
(New York Magazine, April 21, 2008)
(Inside US Trade, April 11, 2008)
(The Washington Independent, March 21, 2008)
(The Hill, November 28, 2007)
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, November 18, 2007)
(The Hill, October 10, 2007)
(The Politico, October 8, 2007)
(Billings Gazette, October 3, 2007)
(Financial Times, October 3, 2007)
(Helena Independent Record, October 3, 2007)
