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Yanis Varoufakis: Europe and the Austerity Fallacy May 09, 2016

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The European Union is a house of cards threatening regional stability and global prosperity, argues Yanis Varoufakis. The flawed architecture of the EU’s institutions, which struggled to develop an effective or coordinated response to the Eurozone crisis, has never been addressed. Rather than reforming governance or enhancing democracy, Varoufakis contends that Europe’s leaders defended the status quo, while administering a punishing course of austerity on the EU’s weaker members. As a result, he believes, Europe will continue to see rising inequality and extremism, while remaining wholly unprepared for the next crisis. What are the key lessons from the Eurozone crisis? And what can global leaders and citizens do to build a more just, democratic, and sustainable economic system?

Emerging Leaders' Perspectives on Global Cities Apr 22, 2016

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Members of the Council’s Emerging Leaders Class of 2016 will discuss their reports on the intersecting challenges facing global cities. Each year the Council selects the best and brightest mid-career leaders in Chicago to join its Emerging Leaders Program. The program culminates with participants reporting on issues they identify as critical and sharing their findings and recommendations with Council audiences. This is the first of three evenings of presentations from the Emerging Leader Class of 2016.

Russia, Ukraine, And The New Cold War? Apr 22, 2016

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More than two years after the Kyiv protests, the crisis in eastern Ukraine threatens to settle into a frozen conflict between the central government and separatists. While the Minsk II ceasefire agreement appears to have tempered the violence, a permanent resolution seems elusive. Meanwhile, relations between Russia and the West remain tense—and increasingly complicated by Russia’s intervention in Syria. Veteran journalist and scholar Marvin Kalb offers a timely reassessment of the conflict’s origins by turning an eye to the deeply intertwined history between Ukraine and Russia—a history, he argues, that must inform the way forward. What stands in the way of a durable peace? What remains to be done by the West? Join Marvin Kalb for a discussion on Ukraine’s past ghosts and future hopes.

Warlords Of Ivory Apr 20, 2016

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Zambia’s Kafue National Park is on the frontline of the global fight to save endangered species. Despite an international moratorium on the ivory trade, recent years have seen Kafue’s elephant population pushed to the brink of extinction. A global black market for ivory products is thriving today, enabled by porous borders and weak enforcement, and linking ruthless poachers in Africa to warlords, terrorists, and unscrupulous collectors across the world. How are NGOs and governments attempting to disrupt the global ivory trade? And in the face of an intensifying struggle to protect the world’s endangered species, what lessons can be learned from the battle for Kafue?

The Smartest Places On Earth Apr 15, 2016

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Moderated by Karen Weigert , Senior Fellow, Global Cities. SHARE Wednesday 04/13/16 7:30 am Could the next emerging market be, in fact, the West? And where does the future of the world economy lie? Antoine van Agtmael and Fred Bakker join Council fellow Karen Weigert in a conversation on the new hotspots for global innovation. They will examine the transformation of “rustbelts” to “brainbelts,” where visionary thinkers, universities, regional government initiatives, start-ups, and big corporations are collaborating to reinvent cities that were once traditional centers of manufacturing. By producing smart products that are transforming industries, van Agtmael and Bakker argue these Western cities that had previously been written off are creating a new economy that is turning globalization on its head.

Immigration And Foreign Born Students Apr 15, 2016

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Boasting many of the world’s top universities, the United States is a magnet for talented students from across the globe. As graduates, these students are an enviable asset to the economy, adding critical knowledge and skills to the workforce and boosting productivity. But current US immigration laws limit the avenues in which international and undocumented students can transition to employment in the United States after graduation. Join Giovanni Peri, author of a new Council report on the economic impact of retaining US-educated foreign-born students in local economies, and a panel of experts as they discuss the challenges presented by current immigration laws and offer recommendations to maximize the contributions of this talent.

Education for All: Eradicating Global Illiteracy Apr 11, 2016

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Literacy is considered a human right, yet an estimated 250 million children around the world are unable to read or write. A lack of resources and unequal access to education—especially in crisis and conflict zones—have left 62 million girls out of school. The global fight for literacy goes beyond reading and writing; educating girls can be a tool for poverty alleviation, economic reform, and can create healthier and safer communities. How can the public and private sectors work with communities to increase literacy rates? Christie Vilsack discusses innovative efforts to eradicate global illiteracy and USAID’s latest international education initiatives.

Markets Under Pressure: Major Sovereign Bonds and Beyond Apr 11, 2016

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Major sovereign bond markets are the cornerstone of the financial system. They not only provide a method for governments to raise funds but also offer low-risk, long-term assets for pension funds and insurance companies to invest in, serve as a yardstick for other asset prices, and give investors a means to hedge interest rate risks. Yet, their smooth functioning cannot be taken for granted. Flashes of extreme volatility have punctuated periods of extraordinary calm. This year, record amounts of European and Japanese government bonds—as much as $6 trillion—yielded negative interest, implying that lenders paid governments to borrow rather than the other way around. What does this mean for markets, investors, and the global economy?

Unmade In China Apr 07, 2016

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This was to be “The Chinese Century.” Lower-cost cars, textiles, and smart phones produced in China have fueled a manufacturing juggernaut that now accounts for 25 percent of global production. But the low-wage labor supply chain that propelled China’s historic growth has started to stagnate even while China’s consumer market evolves into a global economic force. Western manufacturers in China hoping to reach new Chinese customers are facing increased costs, greater environmental regulations, and industry-specific restrictions enforced by the government. What do China’s challenges mean for business leaders and consumers alike? How has the Shanghai free-trade zone changed the market for Western businesses? What will “Made in China” mean in the future?

The United States of Excess Apr 06, 2016

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The United States is seemingly addicted to excess. When it comes to food consumption, 38 percent of Americans are now obese, which is more than twice the average for all rich countries. When it comes to burning fossil fuel, America’s per capita carbon emissions are also twice the European level. Robert Paarlberg argues that America’s excessive consumption is likely to persist, since it grows out of the nation’s fundamental demographic and resource endowments, its distinct and easily deadlocked political institutions, plus its unique culture celebrating individual freedom. What does this mean for the rest of the world? Join the Council on Global Affairs in exploring the dark side of American exceptionalism.

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