Noted economists to debate role of world competition

Will the U.S. follow the theories of Charles Darwin or Adam Smith in its 21^st century economy?

Robert H. Frank, author of “The Darwin Economy: Liberty, Competition, and the Common Good,” will share his views on the future of the U.S. economy beginning at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in Berger Hall.

Frank, the H. J. Louis Professor of Economics, Graduate School of Management, Cornell University is the keynote speaker for “A Brighter Future: Improving the Standard of Living Now and For the Next Generation,” an Oct. 20-22 campus conference.

“Right now the top concern for the American economy is reviving job growth and keeping out of a double dip recession. But looking further down the road, returning to the economy of the past leaves many quality of life, sustainability and equity issues unsolved,” Daphne Greenwood, professor, Department of Economics, and director of the UCCS Colorado Center for Policy Studies. “We are fortunate to have Bob Frank, along with many other experts from across the country come to Colorado Springs to address how to get on a path that improves the standard of living in the United States not only for the next few years, but for the next generation.”

Frank is a columnist for the New York Times. His books, which have been translated into 22 languages, include “The Winner-Take-All Society,” “The Economic Naturalist,” “Falling Behind: Why Inequality Hurts the Middle Class,” and “Principles of Economics”  which was written with Ben Bernanke. Other featured economists presenting include Edward N. Wolff, Ajit Zacharias, Greenwood, Richard P. F. Holt, Paul Kozlowski, Stephen Shirn, David Howell, Kijong Kim, Rania Antonopoulos, Emily Northrop, John F. Tomer, David Colander, Steve Pressman, Robert Scott, Stephen Dunn, Stacey Anderson, Robert Pollin, and Thomas M. Power.

“A Brighter Future: Improving the Standard of Living Now and For the Next Generation” is sponsored by the Colorado Center for Policy Studies with the support of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the UCCS Economics Club, the Department of Economics and the Elizabeth Cushman Fund for Public Policy Research.

Frank and other presenters will be at an open reception and book signing prior to his keynote address. All sessions and events are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required for Friday and Saturday sessions. Please visit https://www.regonline.com/abrighterfuture.

Free parking will be available in lots 3 and 4. For more information about the Colorado Center for Policy Studies, visit http://www.uccs.edu/~ccps