Historically, public infrastructure systems such as roads, water utilities, and schools are financed using a combination of tax revenue, government and revenue-backed bonds. This system has repeatedly fallen short due to insufficient tax revenue and political aversion towards funding “social infrastructure”. Especially for schools, the access to quality infrastructure is highly correlated (in the US) to poverty, stemming from property values, credit worthiness and other factors. A recent bill (not passed) required a 1:6 leverage of federal with state and private finance, compared to 1:12 in Europe and 1:30 proposed under the Climate accords. Either infrastructure has not been built or upgraded, or private capital has stepped in the breach. At the Center for Smart Infrastructure Finance, we're asking whether data-driven models can close the gap by taking advantage of the internet of things (IoT): smart sensors that deliver information which can be monetized. This seminar will explore how private financing models that leverage digital data supply chains to attract 'efficient capital' (e.g. insurance, options trades, debt securities, variable interest rate bonds) can be adapted to financing public infrastructure while limiting recourse to the citizens that use it, and leveling the economic disparities of access.
Book Talks @ The Ford School,
CLOSUP Lecture Series
Barry Rabe discusses his book Can We Price Carbon? Moderated by John Milewski, Director of Digital Programming; Host and Managing Editor, Wilson Center NOW.
Conversations Across Differences,
Policy Talks @ the Ford School
WeListen hosts a conference for student leaders to work across political divides. Keynote discussion by William Kristol and Neera Tanden, hosted by Ford School dean Michael S. Barr.
Returning Ford School Master's students completing summer internship experiences will have the opportunity to reflect/and pitch their policy impact and skills gained during their summer internship experience to a panel of esteemed judges.
WCEE Lecture. Poland, the EU, and Illiberal DemocracyKrzysztof Śmiszek, Polish human rights lawyer, activist, and managing editor of The Anti-Discrimination Law Review
Michigan League Ballroom and Rackham Graduate School Amphitheatre
This workshop will be the first to take an in-depth look at basic income as a poverty alleviation strategy and spur the next generation of research on basic income studies.
Student panels will discuss the implications of their independent research projects on state and local environmental policy on issues including water, energy, climate change, and land use.This event showcases the work of Ford School BA students enrolled in a section of PubPol 495 that is part of the CLOSUP in the Classroom Initiative.
Students of Color in Public Policy, Women and Gender in Public Policy and Out in Public graduate student organizations present the second annual "A Seat at the Table: Women of Color in Public Service" panel and networking reception.
Please join Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan and the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy for a discussion with Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, Ron Haskins.
Citi Foundation Lecture,
Policy Talks @ the Ford School
In this public talk, Vice Admiral Ota will discuss pressing issues in Northeast Asian security, including current tensions surrounding North Korea, China’s military posture, territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas, and how Japan is preparing to deal with each of these matters.
In this talk, Professor Warigia Bowman examines the policymaking and implementation processes for information and communication technologies (“ICT”) in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda from 1990 to 2015.
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, Betty Ford Classroom (Room 1110)
A panel discussion around approaches for reducing infant mortality in Michigan. Panelists include Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Director and Health Officer of the Detroit Health Department, Lynette Biery, Director of the Bureau of Family Services at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and Jaye Clement, Director of Community Health Programs & Strategies at the Henry Ford Health System.
Policy Talks @ the Ford School,
Vandenberg Lecture
On March 18 of this year Vladimir Putin will likely win easy re-election to a 4th term as Russian president. But expectation is growing in Russia that this will be his last term as President, opening a Pandora’s box of uncertainty and competing succession scenarios with broad consequences for Russia’s internal direction, and external ambitions.
Panelists will discuss their own experiences at and views about the ICTY, experiences with transitional justice approaches, and what the future might hold for international justice.
