November 19th, 2009
The Lessons of Recession
The current recession, and the associated financial crisis, have challenged some deeply held understandings about banking and the business cycle. Economists in the public and private sectors have been front and center in responding to these challenges. The latest news from the front will be discussed.
Thursday, December 3, at Chinatown Garden, 618 H St NW
Washington, DC (Gallery Place metro). $16 for members, $20 for non-members (includes lunch). For reservations, please email andrew.felton@sge-econ.org by 11 am, Wednesday, December 2.
Posted in Lunches
October 26th, 2009
Health Care Reform and the U.S. Fiscal Future
Rising spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other health programs is a central feature of the daunting U.S. Federal fiscal outlook. What is the relationship between reform of the U.S. health care system and addressing the projected rise in federal debt? How successful are the current reform efforts in meeting these objectives?
Thursday, November 19, at Chinatown Garden, 618 H St NW
Washington, DC (Gallery Place metro). $16 for members, $20 for non-members (includes lunch). For reservations, please email andrew.felton@sge-econ.org by 11 am, Wednesday, November 18.
Posted in Lunches
October 23rd, 2009
For those of you in the Washington, DC area, or who make frequent trips to the area, the Society of Government Economists is starting to organize discussion groups that are open to everyone. (You do not have to be a member of the SGE to join, though in any case SGE membership is only $25 per year.) These discussion groups will meet at times and places that are most convenient for members of the group, such as during lunchtime or during a happy hour after work, simply to discuss topics of interest and possibly consider group projects such as brown-bag lunches or publications.
You can sign up for discussion groups here. Once enough people sign up for a group, they will be contacted to determine their availability to meet at various times and places. If you only have time to attend one discussion group, but are interested in more than one, it is suggested that you check off on the form every possible group, and then decide what meetings to attend based on your schedule once those groups start scheduling meetings.
If you are interested in joining SGE, please click here. While you do not need to be an SGE member to be in a discussion group, we do ask SGE volunteers and Chairs of the discussion groups to become members if they are not already.
Posted in About SGE
October 3rd, 2009
Update: Download the rapporteur’s report here and Dr. Offutt’s presentation here.
Dr. Susan Offutt, chief economist of the GAO, will speak on October 15, 2009.
The GAO, also known as the “congressional watchdog,” is the primary agency in charge of ensuring accountability in government spending. The GAO is playing a particularly important role in enforcing accountability and transparency in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a.k.a. the stimulus bill. Dr. Offutt will explain what the GAO does as an audit institution and discuss the role of economic analysis is supporting the GAO’s mission, especially with regard to the Recovery Act.
Please note that this lunch will be held at a different location.
- When: 12:00 noon to 1:30pm
- Where: Darlington House, 1610 20th St NW, Washington, DC
- Cost: $20 members
$25 for non-members
(includes lunch)
- Reservations: Before 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 11 to Andrew Felton
- Metro: Dupont Circle (Red Line)
Posted in Lunches
September 21st, 2009
Update: The SGE annual conference was held on September 21 at the George Washington University. Thanks to all the participants who made it a success. Click here for a copy of the program.
Presentations
Posted in Conferences
September 9th, 2009
An Anatomy of Jobless Recoveries: Will Employment Lag Output in 2009-2010 as it did in 2001-03? If Not, Why Not?
Dr Robert J. Gordon, Stanley G. Harris Professor in the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Northwestern University.
The NBER Business Cycle Dating Committee delayed its declaration of November 2001 as the trough recession month for more than 18 months, due to the persistent decline of employment for 18 months after the output trough of November 2001. Assuming that the output trough will ultimately be dated at May or June 2009, similar behavior in the current recession and recovery would imply that employment will continue to decline until the end of 2010. This talk lays out the differences between the past six recessions and argues that there are good reasons why the long lag of employment in the 2001-03 recovery was special and will not be repeated this time.
To download Professor Gordon’s presentation, please click HERE. An accompanying handout is available HERE.
Posted in Lunches
June 24th, 2009
If you have an idea for a seminar, please contact the president.
High-Speed Passenger Rail Transportation Proposals
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. (Refreshments 5:40 p.m.)
Surface Transportation Board Hearing Room First floor, Patriots Plaza
395 E St., S.W., Washington, DC
(Metro: Federal Center SW-Orange/Blue and L’Enfant Plaza-Green/Yellow)
Panel:
Mark E. Yachmetz, Associate Administrator for Railroad Development, Federal Railroad Administration
Joyce Rose, Republican Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials
Light refreshments served. The seminar is free, but please E-mail Melvyn Sacks at MelSacks@cavtel.net for reservations.
Posted in Seminars
June 11th, 2009
If You Only Knew, What We Know About America’s Solid Waste Industry
Posted in Lunches
May 14th, 2009
The Financial Crisis and the Policy Response
Posted in Lunches
April 9th, 2009
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology Investments: An Economic Development Opportunity and the Climate Imperative
Posted in Lunches
