Podcasts

Podcasts February 20, 2025 Special Briefing: The New Administration’s First Month The first Special Briefing of 2025 will offer a deep dive into the new President’s first month and the implications of new policies. Featured speakers include former US Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-GA); Jeffrey Holland, Vice President, Research, Peter G. Peterson Foundation; Eric Kim, Senior Director, U.S. Public Finance at Fitch Ratings; Vikram Rai, Fixed Income Strategist, Head of Municipal Markets Strategy at Wells Fargo; Torsten Slok, Partner and Chief Economist at Apollo; and Mark Zandi, Chief Economist, Moody’s Economics.Moderated by William Glasgall, Volcker Alliance Public Finance Adviser and Penn IUR Fellow, and Susan Wachter, Co-Director of Penn IUR, this briefing is the fifty-seventh in a series of sixty-minute online conversations featuring experts from the national research networks of the Volcker Alliance and Penn IUR, along with other leading academics, economists, and federal, state, and local leader William Glasgall Susan Wachter Mark Zandi Carolyn Bourdeaux Eric Kim Torsen Slok Jeffrey Holland Vikram Rai

Podcasts January 30, 2025 Special Briefing: The Road Ahead for the Economy, States, and Localities as Donald Trump and the GOP Take Charge Major policy shifts in immigration, taxes, trade, energy, health care, and pandemic-era programs passed under the Biden Administration look increasingly likely with Donald Trump capturing the White House and his fellow Republicans taking control of both houses of Congress for the first time in two years. Our panel of experts will share their views on what this sea change may mean for the economy and Federal Reserve, as well as the impact on states, localities, and the $4 trillion municipal bond market, including the possible elimination of the federal tax exemption on most muni bond interest. Susan Wachter William Glasgall Annie Linskey Carolyn Bourdeaux Eric Kazatsky Teryn Zmuda Torsen Slok

Podcasts October 23, 2024 Special Briefing: The $2.3 Trillion American Jobs Plan and State and Local Infrastructure Needs The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing to discuss the impact of the Biden Administration’s infrastructure investment plan and fifteen-year financing strategy on states, counties, cities, schools, and employment. An expert panel reviewed the American Jobs Plan’s priorities and what is likely to emerge as Congress debates the massive proposal. Marc H. Morial, Esq. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Earl Blumenauer Robert Poole Richard Ratvich Polly Trottenberg

Podcasts October 23, 2024 Special Briefing on COVID-19, the American Rescue Plan, and 2022 State and Local Budgets The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on how state and local governments are planning to use the $350 billion in direct aid contained in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act as they finish fiscal 2021 and ready budgets for FY 2022. Our expert panel discussed the impact on budgets of the act’s assistance to individuals and families, educational institutions, and health care and mass-transportation systems. Panelists included National Association of State Budget Officers executive director Shelby Kerns; Wayne County (Michigan) chief financial officer Hughey Newsome; Rochester (Minnesota) mayor Kim Norton; and Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Mark Zandi Shelby Kerns Hughey Newsome Kim Norton

Podcasts October 23, 2024 Special Briefing on the Biden Infrastructure Plan: Resilience, Equity, and Federal Investment The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research cohosted a Special Briefing on President Biden’s proposed infrastructure program, including how state and local governments will use existing American Rescue Plan Act funding to address broadband and water and sewer needs. Our expert panel discussed the Biden plan’s emphasis on resilience and equity; the outlook for investment by counties and cities; and risks posed by climate change to states, counties, and cities in the $4 trillion municipal bond market. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Brad Little Carolyn Bordeaux Laura Curran Thomas G. Doe

Podcasts October 23, 2024 Special Briefing on Climate Change, Federal Aid and State and Local Strategies The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research cohosted a Special Briefing on Climate Change, Federal Aid, and State and Local Strategies. Our expert panel discussed the impact of climate change on state and local finances as well as the role the federal government may play under the infrastructure bill passed by Congress and other measures proposed by President Biden. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Tim Coffin Hughey Newsome Emily Robare Nora Wittstruck

Podcasts October 9, 2024 Special Briefing on State and City Spending of Federal Infrastructure Funds The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted a Special Briefing on state and city spending of federal infrastructure funds contained in the recent enacted infrastructure bill as well as the American Rescue Plan Act. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Patrick J. Brett Earl Blumenauer David Glick Rebecca Rhynhart

Podcasts October 9, 2024 Special Briefing: 2022 Outlook for States and Cities The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research held a Special Briefing on the 2022 outlook for states and localities. Our panel of experts from government, Washington, and Wall Street included Lucy Dadayan, Senior Research Associate with the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center at the Urban Institute; Larry Johnson, Commissioner, DeKalb County (Georgia) Board of Commissioners and President, National Association of Counties; Eric Kim, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings Inc.; Torsten Slok, Chief Economist, Apollo Global Management, and Mark Zandi, Chief Economist, Moody’s Analytics. The panelists discussed the path of the US economy, inflation, interest rates, the impact COVID-19 continues to have, and whether state and local governments face a “fiscal cliff” as federal pandemic budget aid wanes. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Mark Zandi Lucy Dadayan Larry Johnson Eric Kim Torsten Slok

Podcasts October 9, 2024 Watch a Special Briefing on New York City: New Mayor, Federal Aid, Challenges to Recovery The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research co-hosted a Special Briefing on the challenges New York City faces in 2022 and beyond as its new mayor grapples with COVID-19, street crime, and the possibility of fiscal challenges as federal pandemic aid wanes in coming years. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Eugénie L. Birch Kathryn Wylde Richard Ratvich Ray McGuire Ronnie Lowenstein

Podcasts October 9, 2024 Special Briefing on Work from Home: What it Means for State and Local Economies and Revenues The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on the implications of the emergence of permanent work from home or hybrid work models as state and local governments address fluctuations in their economies and revenues. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Tony Williams Ally Schweitzer Howard Chernick Jose Maria Barrero

Podcasts October 9, 2024 Special Briefing on Inflation and Recession Risks for States and Cities The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted a Special Briefing on the outlook for inflation, interest rates, the possibility of a recession, and what this means for state and local finance. The event began with Jerome H. Powell, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, delivering brief welcoming remarks in appreciation of Paul A. Volcker (1927-2019), former Federal Reserve Chair and founding Chairman of the Volcker Alliance. Mark Zandi William Glasgall Susan Wachter Jerome Powell Matt Gress Natalie Cohen Les Richmond

Podcasts October 9, 2024 Special Briefing on the Deployment of the $1 Trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by States and Localities The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted a Special Briefing on how states and localities are deploying the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). With the passage of the IIJA in November 2021, governments face the challenge of allocating more than $1 trillion of funding in a strategic manner that address both past neglected needs and paves the way for a sustainable future. Panelists discussed innovative solutions being pursued, roadblocks that are on the horizon, and the overall impact of this funding on the nation’s infrastructure and economy. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Lawrence Parks Lauren Larson Patrick Brett Jorge Elorza

Podcasts October 2, 2024 Special Briefing on States Cutting Taxes: Relief Now, Shortfalls Later? The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on the wave of proposed and enacted tax holidays, reductions, and rebates sweeping Red and Blue states as revenues surge amid trillions of dollars in federal relief to governments, companies, and individuals following the COVID-19-led economic shutdown. The expert panel discussed actions states and municipalities are taking, if they will provide inflation relief or spur economic growth—or whether they will lead to shortfalls if rising interest rates end in recession, just as much of the pandemic aid is set to expire. Susan Wachter William Glasgall Alex Adams Beverly Bunch Howard Cure Shelby Kerns

Podcasts October 2, 2024 Vulnerable Cities Facing Work from Home Realities The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on the long-term outlook of the impact of working from home. Even as the US has recovered from the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities have continued to see substantial weakness in commercial office space utilization. The expert panel discussed research findings that reflect the slow return of employees to offices, which cities’ tax revenues may be most vulnerable, and what solutions are being deployed to adapt to the new workplace reality. William Glasgall Susan Wachter

Podcasts October 2, 2024 Special Briefing: Stagflation Ahead? Inflation and Recession The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on the likelihood of stagflation and recession as inflationary pressures continue to impact the US economy as well as the outlook for states and municipalities. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Mark Zandi

Podcasts October 2, 2024 Special Briefing: The Inflation Reduction Act: Investment Opportunities and Challenges The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on state and local budgets, focusing on the opportunities and challenges that are on the road ahead. William Glasgall Eugénie L. Birch Susan Wachter Ben Beachy Sarah Gimont Justin Marlowe Richard Prisinzano

Podcasts October 2, 2024 Special Briefing: Big Cities, Big Challenges The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing: Big Cities, Big Challenges. The discussion focused on addressing inflation that has yet to be controlled and recession fears for big cities while federal COVID-19 budgetary aid will soon expire. Susan Wachter William Glasgall Greg David Shirley Franklin Heather Gillers Farhad Omeyr

Podcasts October 2, 2024 Special Briefing: 2023 Outlook for States and Cities The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing: 2023 Outlook for States and Cities. Panelists will discussed issues including inflation, employment, housing, jobs, and the possibility of a recession. Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Arizona, outlined how the city is using federal recovery dollars, focusing on housing projects; the impact of a growing population on the city’s tax base; and her outlook for the coming year. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Mark Zandi Kate Gallego Emily Brock Natalie Cohen Julia Coronado

Podcasts October 2, 2024 The Future of Downtowns The Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research hosted an online Special Briefing on the Future of Downtowns.Our panel of experts included Howard Cure, director of municipal bond research, Evercore Wealth Management; Steven J. Davis, senior fellow, Hoover Institution, and professor of business and economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Tracy Hadden Loh, fellow, Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking, Brookings Metro; Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, Earle W. Kazis and Benjamin Schore professor of real estate and professor of finance, Columbia University's Graduate School of Business; and Romy Varghese, politics editor, Bloomberg News. William Glasgall Susan Wachter Tracy Hadden Loh Howard Cure Steven J. Davis Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh Romy Varghese

Podcasts September 25, 2024 Special Briefing: State and Local Budgets in Uncertain Times As governors and mayors announce their spending plans for fiscal 2024, the Volcker Alliance and Penn Institute for Urban Research invite you to join our panel of experts for an online Special Briefing on State and Local Budgets in Uncertain Times. Susan Wachter William Glasgall Shelby Kerns Eric Kim Lauren Larson Gabriel Petek

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