March 7, 2006

The University of Louisville Kentucky Author Forum is pleased to announce the third event of its 10th season, with author Gene Sperling, who served as President Clinton's National Economic Advisor and as head of the National Economic Council from 1997-2001, on March 7, 2006.

Gene Sperling now works on a variety of economic and international issues in several capacities: Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress; Director of the Center for Universal Education at the Council on Foreign Relations; columnist and commentator for Bloomberg News; a frequent contributor on CNN and NPR, and has also appeared on Meet the Press, Face the Nation and Nightline; a contributing writer and consultant on the television series The West Wing.

Considered one of the country's leading progressive economists and policy-makers, bringing real world experience to the challenges affecting today's global economy, Sperling is author of The Pro-Growth Progressive: An Economic Strategy for Shared Prosperity (Simon & Schuster). In The Pro-Growth Progressive he argues for policies that promote the progressive values of upward mobility and economic dignity, while embracing markets, innovation and economic growth. He covers issues as varied as paid family leave, Social Security reform, and increasing globalization.

Drawing on his experiences as the White House chief economic adviser, Sperling uses down-to earth examples to lay out a highly specific new program for national economic success that respects both the power of free markets and the need for vigorous public policies based on progressive values.

Both major parties remain focused on only part of the economic picture, Sperling argues, to the detriment of the nation and their own futures. “The fact is,” Sperling writes, “that traditional divides in American politics are increasingly ill suited to a serious inquiry about how we grow together in a dynamic global economy. . . .  Those on the right who believe that less government will always lead to more robust economic growth may find themselves out of step with the growing imperative for public policies to help workers adjust to the uncertainties of the global market and ensure that growth is fair and consistent with our values.  Those on the left whose legitimate concern about protecting hardworking families leads them to call for limiting the pace of change may find themselves trying to hold back the inevitable global competition and innovation that are critical to sparking the next burst of high-paying jobs and wealth in our economy.” 

Sperling identifies three basic progressive values: dignity for those who take responsibility for their lives, opportunity for upward mobility, and fair starts so that the accident of birth does not overly determine one’s life outcome.  He offers a fresh perspective on the bitterly polarized debates about outsourcing, trade, and globalization, setting out a new plan for minimizing job losses at home, enhancing labor and environmental standards abroad, and reducing poverty everywhere.  Andhe offers an inventive and comprehensive strategy for sharing the costs of economic dislocation borne by American communities and workers.

Sperling was raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, attended University of Minnesota, Wharton Business School, and Yale Law School. He currently resides with his family in Washington, D.C.

John Ydstie, economics correspondent and host on National Public Radio's News Programs, will interview Sperling at the evening forum. Ydstie became the economics correspondent for National Public Radio in 1988, covering the national economy, Wall Street and the federal budget.

As NPR's London bureau chief, in 1991 and 1992, he traveled throughout Europe, covering, among other things, the breakup of the Soviet Union and attempts to move Europe toward closer political and economic union. He has accompanied U. S. businessmen exploring investment opportunities in Russia. He was on the scene in the Netherlands when European leaders approved the Maastricht Treaty, which created the European Union. He is now a regular guest host on all of NPR's news programs.

Event & Ticket Information

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

2 p.m. Discussion with Gene Sperling, moderated by Paul Coomes, professor of economics, College of Business.

The Kentucky Center
501 West Main Street
Downtown Louisville

5:00 p.m. Wine and Cheese offered by Brown-Forman, along with Carmichael's book sale in the lobby of The Kentucky Center

6:00 p.m. Interview with Gene Sperling and John Ydstie, Bomhard Theatre, set and design by Bittners' (Designing for the Way You Live)

Live taping with Louisville's NPR News Station: WFPL-89.3, KET: The Kentucky Network, and "The Spoken Word," which will carry the audio version of the event to 39 public radio stations throughout the southeast and 1.1 million listeners.

Master of Ceremonies is Forum Editor Keith Runyon of The Courier-Journal

7:00 p.m. Q&A with audience

Carmichael's Bookstore will have copies of Sperling’s new book, The Pro-Growth Progressive: An Economic Strategy for Shared Prosperity for book signing.

A $17 ticket includes the above three events. A limited number of discounted tickets of $5 each are available for U of L students, faculty and staff at the KCA box office --U of L photo ID is required.

8:15 PM Dinner with Gene Sperling and and John Ydstie, hosted by the University of Louisville. A $100 package ticket includes all evening events, including dinner (Proceeds go to the nonprofit Kentucky Author Forum; $35 is tax-deductible.)

Tickets for this event are now on sale at The Kentucky Center. They may also be purchased by calling 502-584-7777 or 800-775-7777 or online at www.kentuckycenter.org

Those who cannot attend the Kentucky Author Forum evening interview will be able to enjoy an unedited version free-of-charge at the St. Matthews Eline Branch Library on Friday, March 10 at 11 a.m. There is no fee involved, but those interested must sign up in advance due to limited seating. Call the library directly at 574-1771 for further information.

WFPL 89.3 FM and Kentucky Educational Television (KET) will record the event for future broadcast, which will be distributed nationally to PBS affiliates nationwide, under the title: "Conversation with Gene Sperling."

Tapes of past Kentucky Author Forums interviews are available through KET by calling 800-945-9167.

The Kentucky Author Forum series is produced by Mary Moss Greenebaum, with Associate Producer Melissa Bernstrom, and is sponsored by the University of Louisville, Brown-Forman, and The Humana Foundation, in cooperation with Carmichael's Bookstore, The Courier-Journal, Bittners, KET, Office Furniture USA, The Kentucky Center, WFPL-89.3, and "The Spoken Word".

624 West Main, Second Floor
Louisville, Kentucky 40202
Phone 502.589.2884
Fax 502.589.4334
email KYFORUM@aol.com