A landmark study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) highlights a slowdown in productivity growth in the United States and other advanced economies. The productivity slump helps to explain the meager wage gains many Americans have experienced over the past decade. Although its causes are complex, research by the White House’s Council on Economic Advisers points to a prime culprit: Lagging rates of private investment since the economy began to recover from the 2007/2008 recession and fiscal crisis.To explore the nexus between business investment, productivity and wage growth, PPI is pleased to present a public forum featuring Jason Furman, Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.Preceding Mr. Furman’s talk will be a roundtable on trends in private investment and about what policymakers can do to spur more of it. PPI Chief Economic Strategist Michael Mandel will discuss his new report, U.S. Investment Heroes of 2015: Why Innovation Drives Investment. Also participating will be Beth Ann Bovino, Chief U.S. Economist, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services; as well as top representatives of several companies the report identifies as among the biggest investors in the U.S. economy, Bob Quinn of AT&T, Jennifer Weber of Duke Energy. Moderating the discussion will be Jim Tankersley, Economic Policy Correspondent, The Washington Post.
