FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Congresswoman and Joint Economic Committee Vice Chair Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) will preside over a hearing October 16 about shortcomings in measurements of inequality and possible solutions for better understanding how the benefits of economic growth are divided.
Most economists believe that inequality is more pronounced than ever, with the top 1 percent pulling away from everyone else. Yet some economists claim that the problem is overblown or that inequality is an inevitable result of robust economic growth. Because of this divide, the hearing will likely generate passionate debate over how to measure inequality and the degree to which it exists. The four witnesses that will appear before the Committee are leading thinkers on this issue and their testimony will expose the fault lines between analyses of this critical issue.
The hearing will consider proposals like one by Vice Chair Maloney, which would require government economists at the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to report changes in gross domestic product (GDP) by each decile of income earners and the top 1 percent. The legislation is part of the congresswoman’s effort to create a clearer picture of who is falling behind in the economy and how Congress can create policies to help.
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
WHO: Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), presiding
WITNESSES: Dr. Gabriel Zucman, Associate Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley
Dr. Heather Boushey, Founder and President/CEO of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth
Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President, American Action Forum
Dr. Eric Zwick, Associate Professor of Finance and Fama Fellow, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
WHERE: 2020 Rayburn House Office Building. Click here for a live feed.
WHEN: 2:15 p.m., Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Individuals with disabilities who require an auxiliary aid or service should contact Amalia Halikias at (202) 577-9447 or email hearing@jec.senate.gov no later than 1:00 pm on Friday, October 11, 2019.
