Seminars

In his State of the Union Address on January 11, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt insisted that the U.S. should not only focus on ending the war, but should also make progress toward economic and social equality at home, which he considered to be a crucial precondition for lasting peace. He proposed a Second Bill of Rights that included rights to employment, housing, medical care, and education. Today, as the U.S. is fighting another war abroad, many progressives are urging renewed attention to economic and social inequality in the U.S. Professor Tom Lininger’s presentation on April 27, 2026, will consider two questions. Does FDR’s Second Bill of Rights provide a useful framework for modern times? How, if at all, should we update FDR’s list of rights to account for the challenges this country faces in 2026?

Dave Giffen will discuss the emergence of mass homelessness in New York City in the 1970’s, summarizing the factors that fueled its growth through the present time – including deinstitutionalization, deeply flawed and short-sighted housing policies, systemic racism, and the continuing practice of defining the crisis in terms of personal pathologies rather than large-scale policy failures. The presentation will also summarize the advocates’ responses to the crisis and discuss the debate among advocates over whether the incrementalist strategies and the creation (and defense) of a legal right to shelter that have dominated the approach in NYC might have been replaced by a comprehensive effort to establish a legal right to housing.

For decades, economists have essentially called for climate austerity imposed by the neoliberal state as the primary mechanism to address the climate crisis. In response, two schools of thought emerged: one embracing the notion of degrowth, arguing for a planned downscaling of production and consumption in high-income countries, in part embracing the austerity mindset as the primary method by which sustainability will be obtained. Another school of thought, propelled into global prominence by the Green New Deal, has embraced a Keynesian vision of green growth. This talk will investigate to what degree these theories are in tension, and where congruences may occur. Further, the role of full employment in this transition, essential to human well-being and broadly shared economic prosperity, will be integrated as potential economic pathways to decarbonization are considered. Last year, Professor Jack Hammond and Dr. Robert Newton presented their views to our Seminar on the subject of Degrowth. We have invited them to attend Professor Paul's presentation on Green Growth and to present their views on this important approach to the problem of climate change.

Full employment has various meanings. In economic theory, full employment implies no unemployment. But labor turnover is part of a dynamic job market, as are changing labor force levels and demand for skills. Operationally, full employment, therefore, is typically based on a low official unemployment rate (e.g., 5%, 3%). These Three Issues Are Important to Consider in Addressing the Achievability of Full Employment: Comprehensive Approach. A combination, or package, of programs and policies, rather than a single or separate jobs program, for example, job training, employment and labor exchanges, income supports…. Efficient Operations and Implementation. Adequate funding, planning, public/private coordination, and performance accountability procedures. Data Needs and Challenges. Labor market and employment data systems, such as accurate, standardized, timely, and accessible data; tracking program activities and results; and analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of policies and programs.

Baby Bonds are publicly funded trust accounts for young adults. Along with the work of the National Jobs for All Network (NJFAN), Baby Bonds address structural economic inequities by ensuring that every person has access to the building blocks of security and opportunity. NJFAN’s vision of a federal job guarantee focuses on income security and the dignity that come from meaningful work—living wages, fair benefits, and safe working conditions. Baby Bonds ensure that every child, regardless of family wealth, enters adulthood with a financial foundation to invest in education, homeownership, or entrepreneurship. Together, Baby Bonds and a Federal Job Guarantee meet immediate and long-term needs: jobs to sustain people today and Baby Bonds to provide the assets to build stability and opportunity. These complementary investments would move us closer to a just economy—where everyone not only has the means to live securely in the present but also the resources to shape his or her future.