Past Event
Forum

The Vital Role of Government Statistics: Strengthening Research, Governance, and Innovation

Thursday, March 02, 2017
Effective Government, Healthy Economy, Technology & Innovation

The modern economy is more reliant on data than ever before. Without reliable information about the economic and social environment, making sensible choices that produce positive outcomes in commerce, research, and governance is impossible. Although the federal government’s statistical agencies play a vital role in generating this information, their value is often overlooked.

On March 2, the Hamilton Project at Brookings and the American Enterprise Institute convened a policy luncheon discussion highlighting the important role of government statistics. The forum began with remarks from Arthur Brooks and Robert E. Rubin. Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach presented on the value of government statistical agencies, followed by a roundtable discussion with Rebecca Blank, Martin S. Feldstein, Ellen Davis, Torsten Slok, and David Leonhardt. In conjunction with this event, the Hamilton Project and AEI released a set of economic facts on the importance of government-collected statistical data.

Agenda

12:15 PM Registration and Lunch

12:30 PM Introductions

Arthur C. Brooks 
President
The American Enterprise Institute

12:35 PM Welcome

Robert E. Rubin
Co-Chair, Council on Foreign Relations;
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary

12:40 PM Presentation of Research

Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach
Director, The Hamilton Project
Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution

12:55 PM Roundtable: The Vital Role of Government Statistics

Discussant: Rebecca Blank
Chancellor
University of Wisconsin – Madison

Discussant: Martin S. Feldstein
George F. Baker Professor of Economics, Harvard University;
President Emeritus, National Bureau of Economic Research

Discussant: Ellen Davis
Executive Director
NRF Foundation

Discussant: Torsten Slok 
Chief International Economist
Deutsche Bank

Moderator: David Leonhardt
Associate Editorial Page Editor
The New York Times

Event Forum

The American Enterprise Institute Auditorium
DANIEL A.D'ANIELLO BUILDING, 1789 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA

Twitter

Follow @hamiltonproj and see the conversation using #GovData

Available Downloads

Presentation Slidespdf

Contact

Events Inquiries

Melanie Gilarsky
Phone: (202) 540-7780
[email protected]

Media Inquiries

Marie Wilken
Phone: (202) 540-7738
[email protected]