Archive for October, 2009

11/19 Lunch: Douglas Holtz-Eakin

Monday, 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.

New Discussion Groups and Continued Call for Members and Volunteers

Friday, 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.

10/15 Lunch: Susan Offutt of the GAO

Saturday, 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)