The 2016 presidential election has focused on everything but the central economic challenge our next President will face: raising labor productivity. Stronger productivity gains are key to lifting U.S. wages and labor standards and narrowing inequality. The formula for faster productivity growth is no secret: Our economy needs more investment, public and private; wider diffusion of innovation; and, more highly skilled workers.
Next week, PPI will release its annual ranking of America’s “Investment Heroes” – the top 25 companies that are investing the most in the U.S. economy. The report finds that, once again, broadband, tech, and energy companies top the list. For all the hand-wringing about “short termism” and “quarterly capitalism,” PPI’s research shows that the companies on our list are making patient, long-term capital investments in innovation and growth. Government needs to do its part by lowering regulatory obstacles to more job-creating investment.
Please join PPI for a lunch forum on Friday, October 14 to take a closer look at this nexus of investment, innovation, and knowledge-economy skills. The forum will focus especially on the broadband sector, which provides the essential infrastructure for digital innovation and growth. It will feature a conversation with John Donovan, Chief Strategy Officer and Group President at AT&T, on his company’s innovation road map and software-centric and data-driven strategy. The telecom giant has led the “Investment Heroes” rankings since they began in 2012.
A roundtable of experts will then explore policy actions the next administration should take to assure sustained private investment in broadband and upskilling workers, while also encouraging companies in other sectors to invest more in physical and human capital.
Friday, October 14, 2016
11 am – 1 pm
Registration opens at 10:45 am
Lunch will be provided.
The Willard InterContinental Hotel
Willard Room
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC
Keynote Conversation:
John Donovan, Chief Strategy Officer and Group President, AT&T Technology and Operations
Paul Barbagallo, Editor, U.S. Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment team, Bloomberg News
Panel Discussion:
Moderated by Paul Barbagallo
Michelle Di Ionno, Economist, PPI
James Assey, Executive Vice President, NCTA
Debbie Golman, Telecommunications Policy Director, CWA
Tom Power, General Counsel, CTIA
