This is a course on how economists think about government revenue and government expenditures – how governments raise and spend public money. Public Finance is a subfield of...
Often cited as one of the most realistic interpretations of inner-city life, The Wire presents a useful platform for students to engage in an interdisciplinary study of the challenges associated with urban poverty in post-industrial American...
Course will examine the origins of the concept of CSR its meaning and motivations, and the shareholder-stakeholder controversy, where the latter include employees, communities (now defined globally) and, most recently, the global...
No metropolis played a greater role in shaping the Twentieth Century world than did Detroit. This course focuses upon the history and future of Detroit emphasizing the private and governmental policies that now seek to revitalize the...
Federal Reserve Bank Vice Chair Michael Barr, former dean of the Ford School, discusses the workings of the Fed, his work on banking reform, and the lessons of leadership he has learned. March, 2024.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo will reflect on economic growth, innovation, and American competitiveness in conversation with Professor Betsey Stevenson. September, 2023.
JJ Prescott will discuss three of his recent papers supporting banning non-competition agreements in employment contracts, including the use and impact of noncompetes on employees, the role of noncompetes in employee mobility, and the subjective b
Professor Sanjukta Paul will discuss her draft chapter, part of a larger book project, that the surrounding developments in the law, in economic thought, and in the organization of economic activity. March, 2023.
Jeffery Zhang presents his research, co-authored with Jeremy Kress, which argues that using the term “macroprudential” to describe modern financial regulation is a myth. February, 2023.
Professor Seyhun and his collaborators investigate racial differences in insider trading behavior by corporate leaders to evaluate whether African-American corporate executives have equal access to networks that generate valuable insider informati
This event discusses and raises concerns about the U.S. dollar’s primacy at risk and the rise of central bank digital currencies, cryptocurrencies, and other innovations that could quicken the dollar’s decline. June, 2022.
With sovereign debt soaring, the issues of "how much debt is too much debt" and "what to do about it'' are likely to move once again from the technocratic realm of "quiet politics" into the electoral realm of "loud politics." This study extends ou
This first event in our COVID-19 reflections series will feature a panel discussion on the local impact of safety nets on communities of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. April, 2022.
University of Michigan Ford School Dean Michael Barr and United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves on working to revive the economy while combating the racist systems embedded within it. January 17, 2022.
Faculty discussant Bill Bynum, Towsley Policymaker in Residence, will focus on the role of policy to advance economic opportunity for disenfranchised populations. January 12, 2022.
Professor of Economics and Law James Hines discusses the most sensible way to pay for the federal government, noting that the answer lies largely in higher tax rates, not in the many popularly-discussed alternatives. November, 2021.
Betsy Stevenson assesses where there have been positive developments and where new policies are needed to ensure long-term stability and opportunity for families and workers. September, 2021.
In this talk, H. Luke Shaefer reviews research on the impacts of the largest and most comprehensive expansion of the social safety net in modern times, and where the nation goes from here.
Penny Naas (MPP '93) talks about key issues in government and business, including diversity, the relationships between the regulated and the regulators, and environmental sustainability. September, 2021.
Racial Foundations of Public Policy is a fall 2021 virtual speaker series that focuses on the historical roots and impact of race in shaping public policy as both a disciplinary field and as a course of action. September, 2021.
Professors Yimfor and Tookes use the investment advisory industry as a laboratory to test whether there are improvements in employee misconduct following M&A events ("misconduct synergies''). September, 2021.
Stephanie Leiser, lecturer in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, discusses the Local Fiscal Health Project, an initiative of the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy to help local governments navigate fiscal challenges.