Events from the Brookings Institution

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On Wednesday, February 16, Brookings Metro hosted an event to assess the state of Black businesses in metropolitan areas across the country, in collaboration with the Path to 15|55 initiative, which endeavors to grow the percentage of Black-owned employer firms. Senior Fellow Andre Perry presented findings from a forthcoming Brookings report, “Black-owned businesses in U.S. cities: The challenges, solutions, and opportunities for prosperity,” and an expert panel explored policy solutions that can build upon the recent rise of small, Black-owned firms and make structural changes that will enable the economy to work for entrepreneurs of all races. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On February 15, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted a fireside chat with Representative Raskin and Brookings President John R. Allen to talk about his new book and the future of American democracy. Following their conversation, a panel of Brookings scholars discussed the most urgent threats to democracy and identify steps that must be taken to ensure its stability for future generations. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On February 14, 2022, the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets hosted a fireside chat with Superintendent Harris to explore her vision and agenda as Superintendent of New York DFS, a role that has implications across New York State, America, and the world. Brookings Senior Fellow Aaron Klein asked Superintendent Harris about her priorities; areas of emphasis; and her views on regulation, supervision, and state and federal roles in financial regulation. The conversation spanned the superintendent's broad jurisdiction and important financial issues she will face, including the role of financial technology, crypto currency, and consumer protection. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Saudi Arabia and Iraq have long had a complex relationship, at times vying for positions of leadership in the Arab World and often closely influenced by each country's stance toward other powers, notably Iran. After tense relations following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the relationship became closely tied to Iranian influence in Iraqi affairs after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Today, both countries have taken steps to improve bilateral relations, which remains crucial for the regional order and for Iraqi domestic politics. On February 9, the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted an event to discuss this important relationship and its implications for American interests. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On February 8, as part of our celebration of Black History Month, the Brookings Institution hosted a webinar focusing on an inclusive public policy agenda for Black Americans. Brookings scholars assessed the president's progress on his campaign promises and discussed topics such as access to quality health care, housing, jobs, and education, police and criminal justice reform, reparations for Black Americans, and voting rights. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On February 7, the Brookings Institution hosted an event marking the launch of a new book by Brookings Rubenstein Fellow Tara Watson and journalist Kalee Thompson, “The Border Within: The Economics of Immigration in an Age of Fear.” In the book, Watson and Thompson assess immigration's effects on every aspect of American life, combining empirical social science research and rigorous analysis with personal stories from immigrants and their families. The event featured a presentation from the authors followed by a panel discussion among experts on immigration policy. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Nearly two decades since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, democratic consolidation is still elusive. From the start, the revival of civil society and NGOs in Iraq was promoted as a means of sustaining democracy through social capital. However, even in areas that enjoyed stability, homogeneity, and prosperity, the political environment has been fraught with public anger and protest. What role has Iraqi civil society played in the path towards democratization and how has it developed? What is the relationship between civil society and democracy in Iraq? Can the U.S. today support democratization through civil society? On February 7, the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings convened a panel to discuss these questions and the related themes explored in the recently published report, "Postwar development of civil society in Iraq's mid-Euphrates region", written by Marsin Alshamary. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On Wednesday, January 26, Brookings Metro and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) co-hosted an event to examine how regional and federal stakeholders can leverage the opportunity of the IIJA implementation to address needed talent development in the skilled trades and other climate-related occupations. The event aimed to highlight the wide range of careers available and explore how industry leaders need to be involved in ongoing hiring and training efforts. Regional stakeholders, including higher education institutions, workforce development boards, and employers, will all play a critical role in a successful IIJA implementation. Speakers identified major challenges in implementation, opportunities to test new solutions, and other considerations facing these leaders in the months and years to come. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On January 24, the Brookings Africa Security Initiative hosted an event to discuss the future of the Sudans, and what the United States and its partners can do to support them. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Middle Eastern regimes are aggressive users of social media. They exploit these platforms against their enemies and rivals targeting dissidents, spreading disinformation, and otherwise trying to embarrass and weaken one another. They are aggressive in their efforts to undermine and punish critics at home as well. What are the implications of these tactics? How might U.S. technology companies counter, or at least reduce, these dangers? On January 24, the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion among experts to address some of these questions and examine the role that social media companies and governments play in shaping the current environment. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

After the build-up of more than 100,000 Russian troops at the Ukrainian border, the public release of two sweeping Russian security proposals, and a series of diplomatic exchanges with the U.S., North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, there are few signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin will de-escalate the ongoing crisis at the border with Ukraine. Why now and what is President Putin's goal? How do events in the region, particularly in Kazakhstan, impact the unfolding crisis at the border with Ukraine? How can Europe reshape its security architecture to better respond to a new era of disruption, and where does the U.S. fit in? On January 21, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted two panel discussions with Brookings experts to explore these questions. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On Thursday, January 20, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted two panel discussions featuring top China scholars, who discussed the evolution of norms in Chinese elite politics, predictions of the outcomes of the 20th Party Congress, and what the future holds for Xi Jinping. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On January 19, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted a webinar examining Biden's performance during his first year in office and what can be expected in his State of the Union speech to Congress. Experts discussed Biden's legislative wins and losses, his approval rating, and his upcoming year in office among other issues.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On January 18, the Japan-America Society of Washington DC and the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution hosted the eighth annual Japan in the Year program, “Japan in 2022.” The event invited senior and next-generation Japanese and American experts and officials to look ahead at what 2022 holds in store for Japan's domestic political and economic affairs, and for Japan's diplomacy. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On January 14, the Brookings Institution's Africa Security Initiative and Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors hosted a panel discussion exploring the following questions: What have the effects of COVID-19 been on conservation in Africa and poaching and wildlife trafficking as well as legal wildlife trade? What effective response measures have been adopted or need to be developed going forward? And has the COVID-19 become an impetus for radically intensified protection of biodiversity and led to genuine transformation toward “One Health,” or has it become not only a tragedy, but also a wasted opportunity for biodiversity conservation and human security? Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On January 13, the Center for Middle East Policy hosted Ayman Safadi, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, for a keynote address. In his remarks, Minister Safadi addressed Jordan's current regional outlook and its foreign policy approach towards the Middle East. Minister Safadi has held office since January 2017. Prior to his appointment, he was a member of the Jordanian Senate. He has also served as an adviser to His Majesty King Abdullah II, minister of state, and the Jordanian government's official spokesperson. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.  

On January 11, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center hosted an event on this divergence between economic and taxable income and its implications for tax policy. Results from new research using the Survey of Consumer Finances will be presented with an eye towards understanding which forms of income do not show up on tax forms, where in the income distribution that divergence is occurring, and the revenue implications of broadening the business income tax base. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.  

Multilateral relations between the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) remain stuck, despite recent announcements by the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, that the two groups should pursue greater engagement to capitalize on the important role played by the GCC countries on the regional and the international stage. What are the obstacles and the opportunities to revitalize EU-GCC cooperation? Which areas hold the greatest potential? How can bilateral relations between individual countries in the two blocs be leveraged to open up new paths for future multilateral engagement? On January 11, the Center for Middle East Policy (CMEP) addressed these and other questions, further examining how EU-GCC relations can be concretely revamped at the political, economic and security levels, also taking recent changes in regional and international geopolitics into account. The event drew on the recently published volume, “The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council: Towards a New Path” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2021), edited by CMEP Nonresident Fellow Adel Abdel Ghafar and Silvia Colombo from the Istituto Affari Internazionali. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On Monday, January 10, the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy brought together a panel of experts to discuss policy initiatives that can more effectively and humanely address behavioral health crises. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On January 6, 2022, an expert panel reflected on the one-year anniversary of the Capitol riot and discussed its lasting effects. What have Americans learned over the last year about the causes of the riot and the people who attended and engineered it? How have government institutions responded—or failed to respond—to the violence? And how should we understand what January 6 means for the health of American democracy going forward? Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On December 15th, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted Donald Jensen, former foreign service officer in Moscow and current director of Russia and Strategic Stability at the United States Institute of Peace, and Vladislav Zubok, professor of international history the London School of Economics and Political Science and author of “Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union.” Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 8:00 AM EST - 9:00 AM EST Online only   Join the conversation on Twitter using #21CSAssessment Education initiatives to advance progress on U.N. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 4.7 on global citizenship education—focused on ensuring learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, human rights, gender equality, and a culture of peace and nonviolence—have never been more critical in today's  interconnected world, particularly given the global health, social, and environmental challenges. Countries' initiatives to transform education in this direction represent hopeful steps toward creating a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. A particular conundrum, though, is how to report and measure country efforts in global citizenship education across diverse cultures and systems to ensure successful classroom implementation. What steps can governments take to devise appropriate indicators—or metrics—to monitor progress toward global citizenship and other aspects of Target 4.7, especially in resource-constrained education settings? On December 15, the Center for Universal Education (CUE) hosted the final virtual event in a three-part series centered around the assessment of 21st century skills. Building off the previous events on measuring 21st century skills in mainstream education and at the household level to help advocate for education policy change, this last event examined the pilot of a monitoring initiative involving Gambia, Bhutan, and Costa Rica, and discussed approaches to creating appropriate definitions and descriptions of global citizenship skills in the Asia-Pacific region as a possible precursor to the development of indicators for assessing their implementation in schools and classrooms. After short presentations on the value of regional platforms for monitoring initiatives, the emergent “transformative education” perspective, and work supported by the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU), the panelists discussed the implications of developing a regional assessment framework for global citizenship. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On December 13, Anton Korinek, the David M. Rubenstein fellow at the Center on Regulation and Markets at Brookings, sat down with Acemoglu to discuss the complexities of the impact of new AI technologies and how AI could be regulated to achieve its promising and wide-reaching potential. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On Dec. 9, 2021, the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings hosted an expert discussion on the politics of education. Panelists discussed recent events and what they mean for students, schools, and society, as well as how education might factor into the 2022 elections.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Advances in digital technologies and artificial intelligence hold great promise to boost economic prosperity. But as these technologies transform nearly every aspect of business and work, they are reshaping growth and distributional dynamics in ways that can increase economic inequality. Indeed, inequality has been rising in many countries, notably in the United States. Rising inequality and related disparities and anxieties have been stoking social discontent and are a major driver of the increased popular disaffection and political polarization that are so evident today. In what ways is today's technological transformation contributing to higher inequality within economies? What are the implications of the new technologies for global inequality and economic convergence between economies? What are the risks associated with rising inequality, including for democratic governance? How can the promise of the digital age be harnessed to achieve more inclusive economic prosperity and strengthen democratic societies? What new challenges arise for public policy? On December 8, on the eve of the Leaders' Summit for Democracy being hosted by the Biden administration on December 9-10, the Brookings Global Forum on Democracy and Technology held a panel discussion to address these issues. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

In the aftermath of the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan and the announcement of the AUKUS security pact between the U.S., United Kingdom, and Australia, the issue of European strategic autonomy is back to the forefront of security debates on both sides of the Atlantic. Europe remains divided on the role the U.S. and NATO should play in European security, with diverging opinions not only between, but also within member states. Some, following the lead of French President Macron, advocate for bolstering European defense, while others argue that a greater role for the European Union on security issues would detract from NATO. How have NATO and the EU collaborated historically? What are points of tension and areas for convergence between the organizations? What would be the implications of enhanced NATO-EU cooperation for relations between the U.S., EU, and other major geopolitical powers? On Wednesday, December 8, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted an expert panel discussion to explore challenges and opportunities for EU–NATO cooperation.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Your credit score plays a major role in your life, impacting your ability to rent an apartment, buy a house, get a credit card, and even how much you pay for auto insurance. These three-digit numbers, graded on a scale that resembles the SAT, have become more accessible to consumers due to recent changes in law, technology, and business. Credit scores are clearly impactful in the lives of Americans, but are they being created accurately, fairly, and with proper regulatory oversight? Is there a better way? Credit scores are built on credit reports, files kept on most Americans by several large credit reporting bureaus. What are these reports and scores made of? How accurate are they? Who ensures they are fair and accurate? On December 7, the Center on Regulation and Markets convened a group of experts to discuss these questions, following opening remarks from Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and get to the core of the issue: Are credit scores and credit reports the right method for society to allocate credit? If so, how can they be improved? If not, what should replace them? Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On December 6, the Brookings Institution, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Center for European Policy Analysis, the Transatlantic Democracy Working Group, the FACT Coalition, and the Leveraging Transparency to Reduce Corruption initiative will co-host a seminar on the fight against corruption and its relationship to advancing democracy and addressing democratic backsliding globally.    The event began with a keynote address from Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Wally Adeyemo, who will focus on the Biden administration's domestic and international anti-corruption agenda. He then joined Brookings President John R. Allen in conversation to further address anti-corruption priorities such as advancing economic fairness, combating money laundering, stemming illicit financial flows, and implementing beneficial ownership transparency as well as opportunities for cross-sector collaboration to address these challenges.   A panel discussion then looked at anti-corruption issues through the lens of the upcoming U.S.-led Summit for Democracy and the release of the “Democracy Playbook 2021: 10 Commitments for Advancing Democracy.” This new report grounds possible commitments and deliverables to be made by governments and other participants in the summit. Expert panelists unpacked those commitments using the example of anti-corruption, but also discussed more broadly how the Summit for Democracy and the “year of action” to follow can renew and strengthen democracy, fight growing authoritarianism, and usher in an era of improved governance.   After the session, panelists took audience questions. Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing events@brookings.edu or via Twitter at @BrookingsGov by using #DemocracyPlaybook.    Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The mob assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 opened a new chapter in domestic terrorism. For the first time in our nation's history, America experienced its first non-peaceful post-election transfer of power. To date, more than 660 arrests have been made, and more than 12% of those arrested were veterans of the U.S. military. The pace, scope, and scale of domestic violent extremism has been increasing, and national security experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the efforts of such groups to recruit active-duty military and veterans to their ranks for the purposes of committing violence and overthrowing the government of the United States. There is a growing movement within the veteran community to partner with researchers, government officials, and private sector companies to counter this threat and play a leading role in blunting the challenges of violent extremism and polarizing misinformation nationally. On December 3, Brookings hosted an event to discuss these and other developments, their implications for the future of domestic security, and how they should inform U.S. policy going forward.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the announcement of AUKUS — a trilateral pact between the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom — prompted a flurry of criticism from European policymakers with one senior EU official calling for a “pause and a reset” in trans-Atlantic relations. Do the core assumptions and principles underpinning U.S. policy towards Europe need rethinking? What does each side really need from the other? How might the Biden administration build out a more affirmative agenda for Europe given its focus on Asia policy and the Indo-Pacific? On November 15, on the heels of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) and the G-20 Summit in Europe, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings hosted French Minister of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune for a keynote conversation and an expert panel discussion on these topics. This event was part of the Brookings – Robert Bosch Foundation Transatlantic Initiative, which aims to build up and expand resilient networks and trans-Atlantic activities to analyze and work on issues concerning trans-Atlantic relations and social cohesion in Europe and the United States.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

After the chaotic withdrawal of NATO forces in August, Afghanistan's future is more uncertain than ever. The Taliban faces unprecedented governance challenges ranging from an economy in tatters to mounting internal security threats even as it seeks to impose strict religious and social rules of conduct on the Afghan people. While the United States does not recognize the Taliban government, practical considerations about the country's security and humanitarian situation raise the question of what the future of U.S. policy should be, and how — or whether — Washington should engage with the Taliban going forward. On November 12, Brookings hosted a virtual event to discuss the humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, and the future of U.S. policy there.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The use of international large-scale educational assessments for informing policies and practices has expanded over the past two decades. Initially, assessment focused on core school subjects, such as language, mathematics, and science, but in the past decade, interest has grown in 21st century skills, such as problem-solving, collaboration, information literacy, and civics and citizenship. However, these constructs—and particularly the social-emotional ones—are not ubiquitous across cultures and nationalities. Western definitions of these constructs may not be understood in the same way in Asian and African countries. On November 10, the Center for Universal Education (CUE) hosted the second virtual event in a three-part series centered around assessment. This discussion looked at two separate assessment initiatives. The first, led by CUE as part of the Optimizing Assessment for All project, piloted a bottom-up method in formal education systems in six countries across Asia and Africa to establish definitions of select 21st century skills and then piloted assessment tools for use in the classroom. The second, being led by ALiVE as part of a regional education learning initiative, takes a community, household-based assessment approach across three African countries and is developing tools to advocate for policy change in education at the national level. The event featured presentations and discussions examining both initiatives' approaches and their localization journeys across geographies, as well as the related implications for the development of assessment tools.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On November 9, the Brookings Institution's Africa Security Initiative and Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors explored the international and internal drivers of the conflict, the threat it poses regionally, and the policies adopted and available to address it. The panel conversation explored the role of external actors, such as the military forces of Rwanda and of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which the Mozambican government invited to assist in responding to the insurgency.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On November 8, Governance Studies at Brookings hosted a webinar examining the results of the 2021 off-year elections, how Democrats are faring in the post-Trump era, and whether Republicans can take advantage of Biden's sagging approval rating. Experts also discussed voter turnout and election administration.    Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have crafted new monetary policy frameworks for an era in which interest rates are hovering close to zero. The Fed's flexible average inflation targeting approach aims at inflation that averages 2% over time; when inflation has been running persistently below that level, the Fed will aim for inflation moderately above 2% for some time. It also aims at a “broad-based and inclusive” definition of maximum employment. The ECB says its goal is inflation of 2% over the medium term, and it describes its commitment to this target as symmetric (meaning it would be equally concerned about below- and above-target inflation). Are these new frameworks well understood by markets, businesses, consumers, and politicians? Have the central banks communicated them well? How have these frameworks been implemented so far? Are they well-suited for the current economic environment? The Hutchins Center on Fiscal & Monetary Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion of these issues by Richard Clarida, vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board; Philip Lane, member of the ECB's Executive Board; and Ben Bernanke, distinguished senior fellow at Brookings and former chair of the Federal Reserve. Following that discussion was a panel of Fed watchers—Julia Coronado of Macro Policy Perspectives; William Dudley, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and Tiffany Wilding of PIMCO.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The 2018 National Defense Strategy was the first time the Pentagon identified China as the organizing focus of U.S. defense policy. Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development, was a key architect of that document. In a new book, he now lays out a vision for how the United States should approach China in the coming years, with special consideration for how the U.S. military might win a war with China in order to deter such a war from ever taking place. On November 5, Brookings hosted Colby for a virtual event to discuss whether the United States can, or should, pursue a strategy of denial vis-à-vis China.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Under Kim Jong Un, North Korea's economic markets have grown, a new middle class has emerged, and the country has experienced modest levels of urban development. Yet, questions remain about the country's domestic future. To what extent have state-society relations shifted? How much domestic change has North Korea experienced, and what other developments can be expected in light of pandemic border lockdowns and economic sanctions? In his new book from Cambridge University Press — “State, Society and Markets in North Korea” — Andrew Yeo evaluates the shifting relationship between state, society, and markets in a deeply authoritarian context. Although North Korea watchers hope for positive reforms, Yeo argues that situational factors will continue to complicate the country's future domestic prospects. On November 5, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at the Brookings Institution hosted Yeo for a discussion of his new book with Jean Lee, moderated by Nonresident Senior Fellow Sheena Greitens.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

In this fireside chat with Circle co-founder, chairman, and CEO Jeremy Allaire, we discussed the rise of stablecoins, the state of regulation of stablecoins, and the potential for greater inclusion through new financial technology (fintech). The dialogue cut through much of the hype of cryptocurrency – stablecoins in particular – and dove into the two important and distinct issues surrounding stablecoins: financial stability and inclusion. This event was part of the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets' Series on Financial Markets and Regulation, which looks at financial institutions and markets broadly and explores how regulatory policy affects consumers, businesses, investors, fintech, financial stability, and economic growth.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Wednesday, Nov 03, 2021 10:00 AM EDT - 11:30 AM EDT Online only   Join the conversation on Twitter using #DFItransparency Development finance is critical to global development, including for the achievement of the sustainable development goals, low-income countries' recovery from the pandemic, and the $100 billion commitment for climate finance. But to know whether finance and development goals are being met—and to keep institutions on track—we need better information on financial flows and how they impact development. Despite the scale of financing by development finance institutions (DFIs), few share ​detailed information on their private sector portfolios. This makes it difficult to assess their development impact and to foster learning within this space. Greater transparency will lay the foundation for more informed decisionmaking, more accountability, and better allocation of resources. On November 3, the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings hosted a virtual event to create space for DFIs, civil society organizations, and the private sector to engage with key issues on DFI transparency. As part of the event, Publish What You Fund launched the report “Advancing DFI Transparency – The rationale and roadmap for better impact, accountability, and markets.” A panel discussed recommendations for greater global disclosure and how donors can better engage with national stakeholders and improve the publication of their development financing. The event introduced a new DFI Transparency Tool.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 27, the Brookings Global Forum on Democracy and Technology hosted a symposium to address these and other challenges to developing technologies that can strengthen democratic societies around the world.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 28, the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings and the World Bank co-hosted a panel of leading experts on these issues. The discussion was moderated by author and Financial Times Africa Editor David Pilling. Panelists discussed the implications of new measurement approaches and the limits of GDP for encouraging sustainable development.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 27, ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (October 31 to November 12), the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and the Brookings Center on Regulation and Markets brought together climate and tax policy experts to examine recent proposals for U.S. energy tax policy. Catherine Wolfram, deputy assistant secretary of climate and energy economics at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, shared her perspective on the Biden administration's climate strategy. Following her keynote, an expert panel consisting of Gilbert Metcalf (Tufts University), Carole Nakhle (Crystol Energy), and Kurt Van Dender (OECD), moderated by Thornton Matheson (Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center), further discussed the U.S. approach to energy tax policy.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 25, the Foreign Policy program at Brookings hosted a keynote conversation with Fiona Hill, Robert Bosch senior fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings, moderated by Senior Fellow and Director of Research for Foreign Policy Michael O'Hanlon. Edward Luce, U.S. national editor and columnist at the Financial Times, moderated an expert panel discussion on the themes of the book.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.  

On October 21, the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings hosted Alondra Nelson, deputy director for science and society at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, for a wide-ranging conversation with Senior Fellow Nicol Turner Lee on these and other topics.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 20, the Center for Universal Education (CUE) hosted a lively discussion to address all of these issues in what will be the first in a series of three events centered around assessment. This first discussion focused on the assessment goals that are most helpful in supporting high-quality learning for all children, and particularly for children in low- and middle-income countries. CUE shared its insights from collaborative work with six countries across Africa and Asia on assessment strategies that help foster deeper learning and engaging pedagogy in challenging contexts, while also highlighting the complexities of assessment in the era of the pandemic. Panelists debated the merits and trade-offs of different approaches, and discussed how the pandemic is shaping the debate on assessing learning.   Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Responding to the climate change challenge will require a multifaceted approach from regulators across industries. To examine the nuanced coordination needed to create sustained impact, the Brookings Center on Regulations and Markets brought together three leading researchers studying climate-related regulations across a variety of settings. Each researcher provided an overview of recent research insights within their field of expertise. Simone Borghesi, director of the Florence School of Regulation – Climate at the European University Institute, brought lessons from the European Union on emission trading schemes; Meredith Fowlie, professor at the University of California, Berkeley, shared insights from her work on the regulation of electricity markets; and Johannes Stroebel, David S. Loeb professor of finance at New York University's Stern School of Business, brought his perspective on climate risk in financial markets. The presentations were followed by a Q&A session moderated by Sanjay Patnaik, fellow and director of the Center on Regulation and Markets. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 19, the Brookings Institution's Center on the United States and Europe convened a panel of experts to discuss these questions. Viewers submitted questions for speakers by emailing events@brookings.edu or by joining the conversation on Twitter with #RevivingTravel. Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 15, Brookings hosted renowned scientist and AIDS researcher William Haseltine in a conversation on his proposal for long-term COVID control with Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon.  Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 15, the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings hosted Li Chunling, who presented the key findings from her new book “China's Youth” from Brookings Institution Press, and a panel discussion of leading experts who examined the implications of this exceptional generation for the country and the world.  Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

On October 14, the Brookings Institution's Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors convened a panel exploring the evolution of nonstate armed actors in the Middle East over the past several decades, and of U.S. and international policy responses toward them.  Subscribe to Brookings Events on iTunes, send feedback email to events@brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. To learn more about upcoming events, visit our website. Brookings Events is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.