Sustaining Capitalism

"We look back to history to know that the times of tumult will pass, but we also have to move through them in really productive ways…to put things in historical perspective, but also to put things into perspective by helping people take a long-term view." That's according to Penny Pennington, Managing Partner of Edward Jones, in an interview with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED).

This CED discussion series, Leadership in Challenging Times, interviews business leaders about the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate. In this thought-provoking discussion, Penny Pennington discusses with Dr. Murray the leadership qualities that are needed in these challenging times, what history tells us and what the CEO's role requires in the public sphere.

On average, rural schools serve 344 students, which is smaller compared to those in towns, suburbs, or cities, and have fewer specialized staff and services relative to schools in other locales. According to 2013 data from the High School Longitudinal Study, 76% of urban and 79% of suburban students went to some form of college compared to 71% of rural students. Yet rural families seem more involved at school than families in other locales despite the longer average travel times involved in these regions.

Cindy Cisneros, Vice President of Education Programs at the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), discusses issues in rural education including teacher recruitment and the impact of technology on learning, as well as the role of local employers in increasing educational opportunities for students. Joining her is Laurie Smith, the 2021 National Rural Teacher of the Year.

During the pandemic, rural America faced special challenges but also bright opportunities as more Americans moved to rural areas. What lessons can we learn from the last two years in promoting sustainable development in rural America?

Don Albrecht, Director of the Western Rural Development Center at Utah State, joins us with insights on this important issue, focusing on healthcare, broadband, employment opportunities, and what states can do to promote rural development in the post-pandemic environment.

Rural healthcare faces unique challenges. Patients need to travel further to access care and attracting talent to more remote areas can be difficult. Issues that existed before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic have grown as the healthcare workforce struggles to regain job losses over the past two years and more facilities close their doors.

In a new episode of Sustaining Capitalism, Tom Morris, Associate Administrator for Rural Health Policy in the Health Resources and Services Administration of the US Department of Health and Human Services, sits down for a conversation with Jessica Nicholson, Senior Economist at the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board. Morris oversees the work of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, which is charged with advising the HHS Secretary on rural health issues. Morris shares some of the latest trends and how the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is working to overcome the challenges.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) technology has led to widespread speculation that it may soon radically transform the labor market. As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, to what extent will AI replace human workers? And how can AI augment uniquely human capabilities? In a new podcast, John Gardner, Vice President of Public Policy at the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), interviews Marguerita Lane, an economist with the OECD's Future of Work team. Lane's research focuses on the effect of AI on the labor market. Together, they discuss some of the ways AI may be integrated into business operations and what the growth of the technology could mean for workers. Lane also shares notable findings from her research and explains why the OECD has adopted principles to promote use of AI that respects both innovation and human rights and democratic values.

Many businesses continue to face difficulties in their supply chains, both domestic and international.

In a new episode of Sustaining Capitalism, Bob Costello, Chief Economist, American Trucking Associations, sits down for a conversation with John Gardner, Vice President, Public Policy at the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board.

Costello shares his thoughts about how trucking is responding to the crisis, how supply chain issues may progress over the next few months, and ways to address the current truck driver shortfall.

CED's Shareholder Versus Stakeholder Capitalism podcast series consists of compelling conversation with CEOs about whether there is a shift towards stakeholder capitalism underway and the implications of the debate on the CEOs' leadership roles within their companies and in society.

The podcast series continues the roundtable discussions launched by The Conference Board for sitting C-suite executives to discuss the practical significance of the shift from a shareholder to stakeholder focus.

In this discussion, CED President Dr. Lori Esposito Murray sits down with Janet Foutty. She is the Executive Chair of the Board of Deloitte, and the former Chair and CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP. Foutty is also the co-author of the upcoming book, Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership.

"Profit is certainly a strong indication that the company is creating value, no doubt. But it says little about whether that value is created in a way that's socially responsible, that the value created for some does not come at the expense of others. That, in my mind, sits at the heart of the conversation, and I do believe that the momentum is certainly clear." –Janet Foutty, Executive Chair of the Board, Deloitte

To remain competitive on the global stage, the US needs to foster more tech talent in the workplace. How can policymakers and business leaders bring people from all backgrounds into the tech field?

In a new podcast, CED Senior Economist Jessica Nicholson interviews Jim McKelvey. He is the Co-Founder and Director of Square, Founder of Invisibly, and Founder and President of the nonprofit LaunchCode, an organization that offers free tech education and job placement opportunities.

Together, the two discuss the current state of the nation's tech workforce; policies and programs to help prepare American workers for the tech jobs of tomorrow; and the vision behind LaunchCode, including the programs offered, success stories, and how the model can be replicated.

Much has been written about the impact of technology, especially as it relates to teaching and learning during the pandemic, whether at the early grade school levels or for ongoing training in the workplace. How must our higher education system transform to keep up with workplace demand in our knowledge-driven economy that is based on a foundation of equitable access, including the role of credentials and employer hiring practices?

Join Cindy Cisneros, Vice President of Education Programs at the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), as she discusses reforms needed in approaches to learning and training for an increasingly shifting and interconnected world. Joining her is Scott Pulsipher, President of Western Governors University, the nation's premier nonprofit competency-based University.

Is immigration the solution to the US Labor Market's problems? As we know, The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp drop in international migration to the United States under several different work visa programs. At the same time, the US labor market has shown signs of tightening—the unemployment rate is low, wages are rising, and job openings are plentiful.

Wouldn't it be natural that the decline in the number of new foreign workers entering the US labor force has resulted in better outcomes for US workers.? Join Senior Economist Jessica Nicholson of the Committee for Economic Development, the policy arm of The Conference Board, as she unveils a surprising conclusion.

In this podcast with Dr. Madeline Zavodny, an expert on immigration, you can learn how the decline in foreign workers actually impacted the US Labor Markets.