Dr. Christina Romer, former chair of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisors and currently a professor at the University of California—Berkeley, visited the Bush School on November 5th. Dr. Romer met with students informally and provided an insider’s perspective on recent economic events. She also shared personal anecdotes from her time working with President Obama, as well as her outlook on the economic future of the United States. Following her remarks, Dr. Romer took questions from students on a range of topics, including the benefits of a carbon tax versus a cap and trade system for climate legislation, the deficit, and increasing American exports to China.
Later that day, Dr. Romer took part in the “Women’s Economic Leadership Forum” panel discussion moderated by Dr. Lori Taylor and hosted by the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. In addition to Dr. Romer, the panel included Sheila Bair, chairwoman of the FDIC, and Sallie L. Krawcheck, president of Global Wealth and Investment Management for Bank of America. Bair and Krawcheck both appeared on the list of “The 100 Most Powerful Women” compiled by Forbes magazine in 2008.
Roman Popadiuk, director of the Bush Library Foundation, introduced the panel to a packed house, with President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush in attendance. After opening remarks by Dr. Taylor and the panelists, the discussion focused on the housing market, new regulations, uncertainty in the financial markets, and stimulus spending. The panel took questions from the audience before closing remarks.
Prior to the forum, Dr. Romer met with George Bush, 41st President of the United States, and complimented him on the quality of questions asked by the Bush School students earlier in the day.
“I think she was genuinely impressed by the Bush School students, and I know that President Bush was pleased to hear that,” said Dr. Taylor.
