RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
The Continuity of Government Commission, June 2009, The American Enterprise Institute and The Brookings Institution
A new report by the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission examines vulnerabilities in the U.S. presidential succession. It has long been assumed that prospects for a smooth transfer of presidential power in the event of a terrorist attack are assured, as there is already a clear line of succession to the nation's highest office. However, as the report's authors point out, the existing presidential succession could be rendered useless by a catastrophic attack because everyone in line to succeed the president lives and works in Washington, D.C. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Douglas J. Elliott, July 01, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The Obama administration recently released a more detailed legislative proposal for its proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). Douglas Elliott believes the proposal appears to retain the intended benefit of a clear focus on consumer protection while addressing seriously the potential for destroying useful financial products. It also aims to prevent the new agency from “empire building.” Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi, June 29, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Policy analysts, civil society groups and aid donors agree that good governance is critical for sustainable economic development. Yet, improving governance and fighting corruption is not always a priority, highlighting serious challenges in global economics. Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi, authors of Governance Matters VIII and the updated Worldwide Governance Indicators, analyze evidence from 212 countries that shows good governance has a strong, positive impact on development. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi, June 2009, The World Bank
Daniel Kaufmann, Aart Kraay and Massimo Mastruzzi release Governance Matters VIII: Governance Indicators for 1996-2008. By updating the Worldwide Governance Indicators, the authors measure institutional quality, governance and the investment climate across 212 countries worldwide to show that good governance has a strong, positive impact on development. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alice M. Rivlin, June 25, 2009, House Committee on the Budget
Testifying before the House Budget Committee, Alice Rivlin urged enforcement of the statutory pay-as-you-go budget rules to rein in the long-term deficit. She endorsed the recent actions taken to stimulate the economy and rescue the financial sector, but said the costly measures further obligate Congress and the administration to control deficits. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Martin Neil Baily, June 25, 2009, PBS NewsHour
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faced fresh questions from a House committee Thursday over the central bank's role facilitating Bank of America's purchase of Merrill Lynch. Martin Baily discusses the Federal Reserve's future role with Jeffrey Brown on NewsHour. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
12:30 PM to 01:30
Washington, DC
Brookings expert Darrell West and Politico Senior Editor David Mark discussed ways the government can use the Internet and new technologies to provide better, faster, more transparent and accountable service to its people in the June 17 edition of the Scouting Report. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
On June 17, Brookings hosted an event on how new technology can make the public sector perform faster and smarter. Brookings Vice President and Director of Governance Studies Darrell West released a new study, “Comparing Technology Innovation in the Private and Public Sectors.” Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Pietro S. Nivola and John C. Courtney, April 23, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The Obama administration and Congress are working rapidly to design a new regulatory architecture for the nation’s financial system. “They might consider taking a page or two from a model next door—Canada,” write Pietro Nivola and John C. Courtney, as they explore why the Canadian banking system remains solvent and solid amid the current global crisis. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William A. Galston, April 19, 2009, The Sunday Times
Although many commentators believe that President Obama will be forced, or at least well advised, to focus his agenda on the economy, President Obama has wagered his presidency on the proposition that the U.S. budget and political system can simultaneously absorb an economic stimulus, bail-outs of financial institutions, the housing sector and the automobile industry, and a social-democratic programme not seen since the days of Lyndon B. Johnson writes William Galston. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, April 16, 2009
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC
On April 16, William Galston moderated a discussion with Alan Wolfe, author of The Future of Liberalism (Knopf, 2009), on how the liberal tradition can influence and illuminate contemporary debates on issues such as immigration, abortion, executive power, religious freedom and free speech. E.J. Dionne, Jr. and Ross Douthat offered their thoughts on liberalism’s roots and how it can be applied to today’s problems. Read More
VIDEO
Ted Piccone, April 10, 2009
In previewing the fifth Summit of the Americas, Ted Piccone notes that popular support for democracy and good governance is widespread in Latin America and that the United States has an opportunity to fix its approach to democracy assistance.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Alice M. Rivlin, April 07, 2009, BigThink.com
Alice Rivlin joined bigthink.com to discuss how businesses can succeed in a new regulatory environment. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Pietro S. Nivola, April 2009, The Brookings Institution
Pietro Nivola examines public attitudes toward the economic crisis, health care, the environment, immigration and foreign affairs. He argues that Americans appear to have tilted toward the Democrats only on some matters and that much of the public remains divided or doubtful about the capacity of government to meet the nation’s greatest challenges. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Carlos Pascual, March 2009, Bertelsmann Stiftung
Carlos Pascual believes short- and long-term issues of globalization cannot be considered independently from one another. Rather, the biggest challenge for transnational governance lies in the scale of the global agenda, and the complexity and interconnectedness of individual issues. Pascual calls for a redefinition of global responsibilities in order to tackle the essential challenges of a globalized world. Read More