Jump-Starting America Presentation at Politics and Prose

With economic inequality increasing and the middle-class at the breaking point, many are giving up on America. To Gruber and Johnson, however, the answer to today’s crisis lies in the nation’s history. Both professors at MIT, the authors also have extensive real-world experience: Gruber was a key figure in designing Romneycare and Obamacare, and Johnson is a former chief economist to the IMF. To create jobs and build the industries of the future, they argue that we can’t depend on Silicon Valley companies, which have developed technologies that benefit the wealthy in prosperous areas, but that we should look to the government. Drawing parallels between today and 1940, they propose that we follow the model of massive public investment, citing the way it generated the scientific and technological innovations that first helped us win the war and then fueled one of the strongest economies in history.

This event is free to attend with no reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.