Work

Our nation has been defined by a simple aspiration that hard work, talent, and creativity can lead to success. This is our American Dream, and it helped create one of our country’s greatest sources of economic strength and national pride: the middle class. Today, however, as globalization and technology eliminate jobs and weaken traditional paths to success, the middle class is in undeniable decline, and so is faith that the American Dream is achievable. But if harnessed correctly, globalization and technology can open up a world of possibilities. Presented by: Markle Economic Future Initiative Zoë Baird, Michael O. Leavitt, Kurt Andersen

The catchphrase of companies today is “innovation.” But what does it mean to drive an innovative company? Innovation does not just happen. Successful organizations create a culture in which ingenuity and inventiveness flourish and risks are taken and respected. How will more traditional organizations seed innovation as a core part of their strategy, and how may they sustain it in times of tight economic conditions? Teresa Carlson, Karen Dahut, Chunka Mui, Hugh F. Johnston, Zackery Hicks

Unemployment for America’s young adults has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression. There are now nearly seven million young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are not connected to education or work. Furthermore, many of these “opportunity youth” end up in costly government programs like the child welfare or justice systems. This session will explore what can be done to support greater academic and employment success for young people in the United States. It will draw on expertise from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, as well as from young people, and includes representation from the Aspen Institute’s own $8 million grantmaking program dedicated to increasing employment outcomes for America’s youth. Stephen Patrick, Ken Thompson, Norman B. Rice, Melody Barnes

David M. Rubenstein, Jason Furman and Gillian Tett discuss the economy.

We live in a time when nearly every aspect of starting a business, identifying and connecting to markets, end-to-end design, and production and service offerings has changed . Suppose a person wants to find investment capital, source talent or resources, or locate manufacturing options and supply chains. Internet-based platforms can provide effective IT, big-data analytics, platforms that connect producers with markets and facilitate business-to-business transactions, and access to key services in logistics, law, and accounting. The days of having to build these infrastructures from scratch are over. Join one of America’s leading thinkers about these new possibilities as he moderates a fascinating discussion about the changing world of business and work, along with TBD, innovator Ping Fu, and Markle Initiative member and CTO of Microsoft, Craig Mundie. Presented by: Markle Economic Future Initiative Ping Fu, Craig Mundie, Tim O'Reilly

During his 2014 State of the Union address, President Obama announced, “When women succeed, America succeeds.” Women today outnumber men on college campuses and in advanced-degree programs; yet the gender pay gap persists, with a woman needing an associate’s degree just to earn what a man with a high school diploma makes. What would it take to bridge the pay gap for women earning degrees at unprecedented rates? What is the role of men in this conversation, and what do low-income women need in order to join their sisters at the top? Anne Mosle, Gwen Ifill, Bill Bynum

How will private/public partnerships grow in the future, and what impact will this have on global development? Why is this good for business? Andrew Ross Sorkin, Andrew D. Plepler

Essential to the rise of modern America was an exceptional financial system with an extremely dispersed banking system that emphasized investment in individuals, businesses, and local infrastructure. But in recent times, the US government reduced normal market risk associated with consumer credit, including loans for housing and education, and diverted a large share of capital from business to consumer credit. We need to rebuild investment in small- to medium-size businesses and capital flows that take advantage of technology to reduce obstacles to business growth. This panel will examine innovative means to channel private capital into potential growth areas like entrepreneurship and small businesses, creative ways of providing credit and moving payments, and how government policy could fuel these engines of growth. Presented by: Markle Economic Future Initiative Louis Hyman, Bill Bynum, Dan Schulman, Derek Thompson

In an increasingly global and networked world, Americans will need new skills and knowledge to succeed. We have entered a time when personalized and lifelong learning are essential if individuals are to develop skills best suited to their talents, best aligned with market needs, and best able to allow them to adapt in a rapidly changing economy. Are we on the verge of a breakdown of the traditional relationship between educational attainment and economic advancement? This panel will explore how innovations in learning and training can better prepare everyone to succeed in a workforce that is continually evolving. Presented by: Markle Economic Future Initiative John Fallon, Craig Mundie, John Palfrey, John Deasy, David Kirkpatrick

To celebrate its 25th year of bringing economics to life, American Public Media’s "Marketplace" is hitting the road. On stage at the Aspen Ideas Festival, “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Numbers” will provide an irreverent, insightful look at the economic numbers in our lives. Numbers without context, numbers in headlines, and numbers that are newsworthy are often just that: a figure. From the Dow to the GDP to monthly unemployment, we’re bombarded with stats and percentages daily. How do we make sense of what they all really mean? Join “Marketplace” host Kai Ryssdal — plus “Marketplace” reporters and special guests — as they humanize the numbers. It’s an evening of radio with interviews and engaging storytelling. Kai Ryssdal, Beau Willimon, Tony Fadell, Jennifer Pahlka

How we rethink the high school diploma. Randi Weingarten, Lynda Resnick, Steve Clemons

Joseph Quinlan is the speaker for this session.

Not so long ago, the marketplace was defined for consumers. What was on the shelf was what was available. Moving forward — and fast — consumers are defining the marketplace for the firms that supply it. Linked to each other through open networks, customers now are recommending to each other the best opportunities. To what degree will our economy be influenced by open networks that offer platforms to customers for ideas, products, and innovation? Will the American consumer drive the future of work? Mark Schlageter, David Weinberger, Derek Thompson, Andrew McAfee