Democracy Matters
What?
Economics professor Ran Abramitzky, hosting 39 Stanford faculty who will weigh in on the challenges facing the U.S. as we approach the elections. The entire Stanford community is welcome, including staff, students, faculty, postdocs, alumni, as is the general public. Students who wish to take the course for a (1-unit) credit should attend or watch the recordings of at least 8 of the 9 events.
When?
Every Tuesday 12:30-1:50pm (virtual) during the fall quarter.
Why?
Should the U.S. close its borders to immigrants? What are the ramifications of income inequality?
How has COVID-19 changed life as we know it? Why are Americans so politically polarized? How can we address racial injustice? As the 2020 election approaches, faculty members from across Stanford will explore and examine some of the biggest challenges facing society today. Each week will be dedicated to a different topic, ranging from health care and the economy to racial injustice and challenges to democracy.
Faculty with expertise in philosophy, economics, law, political science, psychology, medicine, history, and more will come together for lively conversations about the issues not only shaping this election season but also the nation and world at large. There will also be Q&A following the initial discussion.
Event Details
September 15: Challenges Facing Democracy in the U.S.
Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar — American Constitutional Democracy in a Changing World
Larry Diamond — Depolarizing American Politics
Margaret Levi — A More Equitable Union
Condoleezza Rice — Challenges Facing the U.S.
September 29: How the Pandemic is Changing the Economy
Susan Athey — Incentives and Investment in COVID-19 Vaccines
Nick Bloom — The Future of Working from Home
Rebecca Diamond — The Benefits to Preventing another Foreclosure Wave - Evidence from the Great Recession
Darrell Duffie — Financial Markets and Economic Policy in a Pandemic
October 13: Immigration and the American Dream
Ran Abramitzky — Streets of Gold: Immigration and The American Dream Over Two Centuries
Asad L. Asad — Deportation Threat and Daily Life
Ana Raquel Minian — The Return of Immigration Detention
Melanie Morten — Building a Border Wall
October 27: U.S. Health Policy in the COVID Era and Beyond
Kate Bundorf — The Coronavirus Pandemic and the U.S. Health Care System
Lisa Chamberlain — Kids, COVID and Child Health Policy
Mark Duggan — Social Security, Medicare, and Health Policy
Maria Polyakova — Private Provision of Social Insurance
November 10: The Election Results and What's Next
Emilee Chapman — Democracy and Voting
Francis Fukuyama — Overcoming Polarization
Anna Grzymala-Busse — Populism Around the World
Michael McFaul — U.S. Foreign Policy in Dealing with the Great Power Competition, China and Russia