Public Radio (KNPR) Interviews
Audrey Singer, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program, Brookings Institution, February 27, 2013
Large Gap Remains In The Immigration Debate
Republicans have made immigration reform a priority after last November's election. But how will the left and the right bridge the gap that exists in what that reform should look like? Brookings researcher Audrey Singer will speak at UNLV in March. She joins us to talk immigration reform.
Carol Graham, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, February 21, 2013
Measuring Happiness
Economists who have been calculating gross domestic product and trade deficits for years have turned their attention to happiness. They want to know what makes people happy, and what governments can do to promote more happiness in their citizens. But first they have to know how to measure happiness in the first place. So what does happiness mean to you? And do you know what you need to achieve happiness?
Adele Morris, Fellow, Economic Studies and Policy Director for Climate and Energy Economics, Economic Studies, Brookings Institution, Ocotber 23, 2012
Can Clean Energy Boost the Economy
Experts say that clean energy, such as wind and solar, is good for the environment. But studies show it also can be good for our nation's economy. Brookings Institute scholar Adele Morris will take a look at how clean energy can boost our economy, and what states and local governments should be doing to build a clean energy industry.
Steven Pifer, Diretor of the Brookings Arms Control Initiative, October 8, 2012
Future of Nuclear Weapons Policy
Nuclear arms were created during the 1940s, and were used as a deterrent during the Cold War. Since then, the world has had to figure out how to handle the world's deadliest weapons. A presentation on Wednesday will explore challenges and opportunities facing Washington D.C. following the 2012 presidential elections in Russia and the U.S.
Bruce Jones, Nonresident Fellow, Foreign Affairs; and Director of the Managing Global Order Project, Brookings Institution, October 3, 2012
Redefining America's Role On The Global Stage
There was a time when the United States was seen as the one global leader. But that is no longer the case, as China, Brazil and others increase their global clout. But while there are now more players on the global stage, the United States and the West still remain central to managing the new global order.
John Banks, Nonresident Fellow, Foreign Policy Program and Energy Security Initiative, Brookings Institution, September 25, 2012
Debating Energy Policy
Since the oil embargo of 1973, the US has struggled to implement a sustainable and comprehensive national energy policy. We'll talk with John Banks, a Brookings Institute nonresident fellow in foreign policy and energy security about what is impacting the energy policy debate.
Tracy Gordon, Fellow, Economic Studies and Urban Institute - Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center, September 18, 2012
Nevada Adjusts to Economy
Nevada was one of the states most affected by the economic downturn, which meant it also had to deal with one of the nation's worst state budget shortfalls in 2011. So what did state and local governments do well during the downturn? And what could we have done better?
Robert Lang, UNLV Director, Brookings Mountain West, July 2, 2012
Is the Las Vegas Economy Keeping up with the Region
The economies in Metropolitan areas in the Mountain West region are recovering at a good pace but unemployment still remains high in Las Vegas and across the entire state of Nevada. That's according to a new report from Brookings Mountain West at UNLV. Is Nevada keeping up with the region? And what needs to be done to keep pace with our neighbors in places like Arizona, Colorado and Utah? We discuss the latest Brookings Mountain Monitor report and the latest on Nevada's economic activity.
Adele Morris, Fellow, Economic Studies, March 27, 2012
The Future of the Tax System
Most everyone agrees that the American tax system is unfair, unnecessarily complicated, and riddled with loopholes for special interests. There is, however, no consensus on the fix. One person's loophole is another's great social policy or national economic security. And then what should be done about popular tax breaks like the mortgage interest and charitable deductions? Brookings Institution Economist Adele Morris is giving her thoughts at UNLV and gives us a preview of her thinking.
Peter Singer, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy and Director, 21st Century Defense Initiative, March 20, 2012
What is Changing in War and National Security?
P.W. Singer has established himself as one of the leading experts on modern warfare - drones and robots as well as armies of children and corporate employees. Singer is the Senior Fellow and Director of the 21st Century Defense Initiative at the Brookings Institution.
Rob Lang, UNLV Director of Brookings Mountain West, January 30, 2012
The Future of Infrastructure in Las Vegas
The freeways are being widened and McCarran has a new terminal but does that cover Las Vegas infrastructure needs? Could new roads and railroads really strengthen the economy in Southern Nevada? And what else will diversify the kind of business that is carried on in Nevada? The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, which is usually opposed to new government spending, is a convert to the idea that we need to re-think the infrastructure needs of Las Vegas. Who converted the members? Urban Studies Professor and Director of Brookings Mountain West Robert Lang. He joins us to discuss the long-term development of the economy in Southern Nevada.
Tom Loveless, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, January 9, 2012
How U.S. Students Compare Globally
Tom Loveless is a former sixth grade teacher and Harvard public policy professor. Heâ s been studying the achievement gap, education policy, and school reform. So how can we reform our school district? What would teachers and the state have to do? How do we close the achievement gap? And can we compete on a global scale with other countries, whose students surpass us? Tom Loveless of the Brookings Institution weighs in.
Ron Haskins, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution, October 19, 2011
How Federal Deficit Cutting Might Impact Nevada
As part of a deal to reduce the nation's deficit, Congress created a "super committee" tasked with finding $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next ten years. With those cuts could come reduced funding for state programs that rely on federal money. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction as it is officially known, has been working since September but has been pretty quiet about what's going on. Ron Haskins discusses how the super committee is working and what might be in store for Nevadans.
Robert Lang, UNLV Director, Brookings Mountain West, September 2, 2011
A Look at the Future of Las Vegas
Las Vegas continues to struggle with how to climb out of the current economic crisis. The numbers are overwhelming and all too familiar. The highest foreclosure rate, lowest graduation rate, tops in unemployment and a struggle with diversification. We continue our discussion with the BBC's Lawrence Pollard and panel of local experts and leaders about what's in store for Las Vegas looking ahead.
Clifford Gaddy, Economist and Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute, April 19, 2011
Clifford Gaddy on the Power of Russian Oil
Many people associate oil with the Middle East. But Russia is actually the world's largest producer of oil and gas. For 40 years, oil and gas have driven Russia's economy and foreign policy. So what role does Russia play on the fuel stage today? And how can it influence world energy security and geopolitics? Brookings Mountain West scholar Clifford Gaddy joins us for an in-depth look at Russia's "liquid gold."
Darrell M. West, Vice President and Director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, March 9, 2011
Cost of Not Having Immigration Reform
Darrell West is one member of a panel that explores this important issue. Arizona, and many more states across the country, are pushing forward with their own immigration laws. They're frustrated the federal government is not doing something about the issue. We'll look at the latest bills in Arizona's legislature as well as debate the true cost of having so many undocumented workers in America.
Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Universal Education, the Brookings Institute, February 10, 2011
Education in the Developing World
Rebecca Winthrop has studied education in some of the world's most violent and conflicted hot spots. The former head of education for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has studied how girls and refugees learn in places like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Sudan. Can education cut down on militant extremism? Rebecca Winthrop gives an insider's look at how people learn inside war-torn countries, and what the next steps are for third-world education.
Matthew N. Murray, Professor of Economics and Associate Director, CBER, University of Tennessee, January 5, 2011
State Budgets and Planning for the Future
States in the Intermountain West like Nevada are likely to face budget challenges over the next decade. The reason? Poor planning and a lack of foresight in budget planning. That's according to a new report from Brookings Mountain West at UNLV. So do Nevadans and the state's elected leaders have the will to make things change? We discuss how Nevada can prepare for future state deficits and if the political process is in place to make it happen.
Alan Mallach, non-resident senior fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program of The Brookings Institution, October 25, 2010
The Future of US Housing Policy
Foreclosures and plummeting housing prices. That pretty much summarizes daily life in Las Vegas. That's fundamentally changed how America's housing market works, says a Brookings expert. How will this shape future housing policies? How do we turn empty lots into community assets? Alan Mallach talks about the housing market "reset" and what's in store for homeowners.
Mark Muro, Co-Dir, Brookings Mountain West, and Fellow and Policy Director Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, September 2, 2010
Brookings Centers of Invention
Brookings Mountain West at UNLV says that Nevada can be at the heart a transformation in how the country reduces its carbon footprint. By establishing federally funded innovation centers across the intermountain West, Brookings says the region can capitalize on its many world class assets. Two of the six proposed centers in the report are in Nevada, one in Reno that would focus on geothermal research and one in Southern Nevada which would focus on solar energy. So how can Northern and Southern Nevada benefit from its existing resources and build out on its purported potential? We talk with Brookings Scholar, Mark Muro about the report and why Nevada would be a good place for energy innovation.
Robert Puentes, Senior Fellow, Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program and Tom Skancke, President of The Skancke Company, July 27, 2010
Building the I-11
Now is the time to focus on building Interstate 11. The proposed freeway would connect Phoenix and Las Vegas and be part of a redesigned Boulder City bypass. But who would benefit from this highway? And how will it be funded?
William Antholis, May 18, 2010
Reclaiming Prosperity
Strobe Talbott and William Antholis of the Brookings Institution are in Las Vegas on May 19th to speat at UNLV about their new book, Fast Forward: Ethics and Politics in the Age of Global Warming. Bill Antholis speaks with us about the increasing threat of climate change.
Bruce Katz, April 5, 2010
Reclaiming Prosperity
Bruce Katz from the Brookings Institution tells us how Nevada can rethink its approach to business and innovation and bring Las Vegas out of the recession. And the key factors in creating and sustaining jobs and a strong educated workforce.
Mark Muro, March 19, 2010
Nevada Economy
Nevada's economy typically roars back from recession, but not this time around. We're joined by Mark Muro, one of the authors of the Brookings Mountain Monitors Report. He tells us why Nevada continues to struggle even as the nation inches forward.
Adele Morris, Nov. 17, 2009
Cap and Trade
Brookings Institution economist Adele Morris explains why the Copenhagen conference will not be able to agree on a common plan to tackle climate change. She instead suggests that the United States has to pass its climate legislation before it can expect a serious response from the rest of the world to treaty proposals. She also recommends a tax on carbon emissions but it will have to be imposed by the emissions trading scheme now in Congress.
Pietro Nivola, Nov. 10, 2009
Fuel Economy
Since the Carter administration, the government has been trying to improve the nation's fuel economy. But the average miles per gallon are still around 27 mpg more than two decades after the effort began. What went wrong. Brookings Institution scholar Pietro Nivola discusses the long and winding road to fuel economy in the United States.
Mark Muro, Oct. 8, 2009
Air Travel Trends
A new report from the Brookings Institution suggests that there's much more air travel out west than previously thought. That might also spell out the need to rethink high-speed rail in the Southwest and not limit it to the left and right coasts. Mark Muro of the Brookings Institution discusses the new findings.
Clifford Winston, Oct. 7, 2009
Markets and Regulation
Brookings Institution economist Clifford Winston talks about the lessons of the financial meltdown for regulating the financial system. He discusses the efficiency of markets and what he thinks the lessons are.
Rob Lang, Sept. 9, 2009
Brookings West
UNLV is teaming up with The Brookings Institution. The partnership will create a western branch to bring an arm of the Washington-based think tank to Las Vegas. Brookings West will research public policy on infrastructure and quality of life changes facing intermountain west states. Robert Lang, senior fellow, at the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, tells us why Las Vegas is the place for Brookings.
