So Future: So Near

co-organized with California Forward

In this strategic conversation, we will address the impact of Covid-19 on California’s economy. A key element of the discussion will be the State’s ability to maintain its position as a place of innovation and economic opportunity. The pandemic has challenged the State’s ability to manage the many trends emerging – some of which could have serious impacts on California’s future economic competitiveness and quality of life if not addressed. This discussion will provide a broad overview of the challenges – and opportunities – confronting the state, and set the stage for the series of conference sessions which follow.

co-organized with Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation

California is a hub for the global flows of goods, investment, talent, and ideas. While the pandemic has caused short-term disruption to global value chains, it has also accelerated change on the back of secular political, economic, environmental, and technological forces. What does all this mean for California? This discussion will focus on assessing and formulating ideas on how the state can fit into the global value chains of the future, and how policy and business leaders can support transformative innovations to advance California’s status as a global leader.  

co-organized with Office of the California State Treasurer

California is at an inflection point. The pandemic has exposed major weaknesses in the state’s economy. Taxes are high, regulations strict, housing is scarce, and economic inequality is on the rise. Many jobs have transitioned to AI and automation, others have been off-shored. A number of high-profile corporations have recently moved their headquarters out of the state. This session will consider the economic, labor and business environment of California, focusing steps to make the state more friendly to investment and business retention while enhancing the quality of life for residents of California.

co-organized with the Milken Institute Center for Regional Economics and California Center

The pandemic has deeply impacted urban planning strategies. Business districts have been hollowed out, transit centers emptied, and an extraordinarily high number of Californians are working from home. Many previous indoor activities, such as dining, now take place largely outdoors. This discussion session will consider the changes to the urban environment and consider how policymaking can support a healthier, more resilient and more diverse urban environment. 

co-organized with Stanford University China Program

U.S.-China economic relations have grown increasingly fraught and competitive of late. Yet even amidst intensifying tensions, these two major economies remain intertwined. Chinese trade and investments into California have grown exponentially over the last decade. But they have come under increasing pressure following geopolitical and economic tensions between the two nations. This session will explore the role of Chinese economic activity in California and implications for the post-Covid recovery. 

The pandemic has revealed the degree of interconnectedness and complex interdependence which characterizes the New Economy and California’s role therein. The topics and themes explored in the course of the New Economy Conference are related in numerous and complex ways. The final session will provide a synthesis of the previous five sessions, focusing on key takeaways and intersectionalities of emergent themes in pursuit of potential policy solutions that will shape the New California Economy for decades to come.