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The Future of Asia-Pacific Economic Integration Session 2 Jan 24, 2018

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Seventy years after independence, India is the world’s largest democracy, one of its most diverse societies, and the economy with growth potential that could rival China’s. Yet it also remains one of the poorest and unequal, with hundreds of millions mired in deep poverty and limited by a rigid caste system that constrains social mobility. The Narendra Modi-led government’s turn to Hindu nationalism has sharpened sectarian tensions and raised questions over the rule of law—and hasn’t helped relations with Pakistan either. With three decades left before its centennial, what must India do to become a decisive force on the world stage and convert its expected demographic dividend into broad prosperity? Featuring: Bart Édes, North American Representative, Asian Development Bank; Shihoko Goto, Senior Northeast Asia Associate, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Jonathon Hallberg, Executive Director, Jefferson County Development Corporation; Jason Hester, President, Greater Columbus Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia; And other participants. Moderated by Karl Friedhoff, Fellow, Public Opinion and Asia Policy; Michael Lev, Member, Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune; Phil Levy, Senior Fellow, Global Economy.

The Future of Asia-Pacific Economic Integration Session 1 Jan 24, 2018

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Shortly after his inauguration, US President Donald Trump announced he would withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The withdrawal from this agreement, which was previously billed by the Obama administration as a way to enhance American economic growth and sustain American influence in the Asia Pacific region, signified a major shift in US trade policy. What will be the future of Asia Pacific economic integration following the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership? What local and regional impacts will this withdrawal have for the United States on foreign direct investment and trade from Asia? Featuring: Bart Édes, North American Representative, Asian Development Bank; Shihoko Goto, Senior Northeast Asia Associate, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Jonathon Hallberg, Executive Director, Jefferson County Development Corporation; Jason Hester, President, Greater Columbus Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia; And other participants. Moderated by Karl Friedhoff, Fellow, Public Opinion and Asia Policy; Michael Lev, Member, Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune; Phil Levy, Senior Fellow, Global Economy.

NAFTA Renegotiation and the Uncertain Future of US Trade Policy Jan 23, 2018

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No one said it was going to be easy, but the heat is ratcheting up as NAFTA renegotiation becomes contentious and the parties race toward a March deadline. The United States has put forward novel proposals that have encountered stiff opposition from Canada and Mexico. Critical sticking points include rules of origin for products such as cars, dispute settlement resolution, and a ‘sunset clause.’ As the United States threatens to pull out of NAFTA altogether and the Trump administration emphasizes its preference for bilateral over multilateral trade deals, the rest of the world is watching these talks closely. Carla Hills, the lead negotiator of NAFTA in the 1990s, joins the Council’s Phil Levy to discuss whether the United States can really withdraw from NAFTA and what that would mean for the US economy and its international economic leadership. Featuring: Carla Hills, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hills & Company, International Consultants; Phil Levy, Senior Fellow, Global Economy.

The Future of Monetary Policy: Embracing The Unconventional Jan 23, 2018

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In February, the Janet Yellen era at the Federal Reserve will conclude and the Jerome Powell era will begin. What will the change mean for US monetary policy? Advanced economies are reveling in increasing growth and bright economic outlooks, yet central banks are only very slowly normalizing monetary policy to pre-crisis levels. With inflation still well below target, interest rates are expected to remain low (and negative in some countries), and engorged balance sheets are only very slowly being whittled down. Does the low-inflation economy demand that these unconventional approaches to monetary policy become standard tools of central banks’ arsenal? Or can central bankers throw off the shackles of the Phillips Curve mentality and insist on normalization? Featuring: Donald Kohn, Robert V. Roosa Chair in International Economics and Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution; Randall Kroszner, Norman R. Bobins Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Michael H. Moskow, Vice Chair and Distinguished Fellow, Global Economy. Moderated by Bethany McLean, Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair.

The Trump Presidency: One Year Later Jan 19, 2018

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The first year of President Donald J. Trump’s administration has been unlike that of any other American president. Trump’s prolific use of Twitter, willingness to reevaluate long-held policies and alliances, and populist nationalism have made a significant impact on his presidency and his party. Meanwhile, the administration’s efforts in the coming year to contain the threat posed by North Korea, deal with a resurgent Russia, and broker peace in the Middle East will help shape its ultimate legacy. How will the first year of the Trump presidency be judged by historians in years to come? Is the American presidency as an institution being changed in ways that will have an impact on future officeholders and the country as a whole? Featuring: David Axelrod, Institute Director, The University of Chicago Institute of Politics; Former Senior Advisor, President Barack Obama;Timothy Naftali, Clinical Associate Professor, New York University; Presidential Historian, CNN; Kori Schake, Distinguished Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University; Former Senior Policy Advisor, McCain-Palin Campaign; McKay Coppins, Staff Writer, The Atlantic, Author.

Artificial Intelligence: Hype, Hope, Or Hazzard Jan 18, 2018

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Artificial intelligence promises to transform almost every aspect of daily life in the years ahead. From virtual assistants and self-driving cars, to robotic surgeons and autonomous weapons, the applications are almost limitless. But with advances in computing making it possible for machines to learn from experience, make decisions, and perform complex tasks, many fear that humans could be sidelined, even threatened. How might advances in this field of technology change the relationship between humans and machines? And how should individuals, governments, and corporations prepare for the transformational power of accelerating AI?

Secure The Vote Jan 17, 2018

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The 2016 United States presidential election demonstrated the vulnerability of electoral systems to outside interference. While much attention has focused on social media and leaked emails the security of voting systems themselves poses a critical threat to American democracy. The scale of this challenge was revealed in July when hackers at the DEF CON conference tested and breached – within minutes – various pieces of election equipment, some of which are still in use today. Can electoral systems be secured in the digital age? How are governments around the world, and at the local, state, and federal level in the United States, preparing to meet this threat?

Blockchain: The New Digital Trust Dec 14, 2017

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The currency of the future isn’t gold, dollars, or even bitcoin – it’s trust. As the number and nature of daily transactions increase due to digital connectivity and global trade, trusting who is on the other end of the interaction becomes paramount. A newish technology, the blockchain, is poised to create a shared single version of the truth of anything digital through a distributed ledger system based on the principals of simultaneous democratization and cryptography of digital information. Learn more about the blockchain, potential applications, and surprising industries set to be revolutionized by this disruptive technology.

The Age Of Accelerations Dec 04, 2017

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Today’s is a world of rapid and bewildering change. Globalization, climate change, and, above all technology, are transforming societies in ways that would have seemed unimaginable only a generation ago. From workplaces and communities, to the farthest reaches of the planet, nowhere is untouched by these forces. For many this change has brought a sense of dislocation, confusion, and a longing for the old certainties: feelings that have been readily exploited by populist movements in recent years. Is this age of acceleration destined to foster greater division? Or can business and government be reimagined to harness technology in ways that solve the world's greatest challenges?

Global City Mayors on Climate Action: The Ripple Effect Dec 04, 2017

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What role do cities and their mayors have in combating climate change? With more than half the world’s population living in urban areas and estimates that climate change could cost the world’s major cities twice as much as the rest of the planet – city mayors are dedicated to finding solutions for climate mitigation and resilience. Nearly 50 mayors from cities around the world will convene in Chicago for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy’s North American Climate Summit. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs will host a panel with global city mayors highlighting their efforts to tackle climate change. The panel will be moderated by New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman.

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