The Forum on Constructive Capitalism has its origin in an idea from Bernard Schwartz, chairman and CEO of BLS Investments, LLC, a private investment firm. Mr. Schwartz believes that the enormous benefits Americans have gained from economic and technological progress over the past century are just a beginning. Indeed, that progress could be dwarfed by the even greater possibilities that new technology and a global economy can offer not only to Americans but to most of the world in the new century -- provided wise policies are followed. It is Mr. Schwartz's belief that this growth in world productivity can provide the resources to resolve many of the problems that appear to be -- or are claimed to be -- the consequences of globalization. It is in this spirit that he has decided to support a serious academic inquiry into the factors contributing to growth in global productivity and policies that can help: 1) to sustain that growth; and 2) to distribute the benefits of that growth so that they are shared as widely as possible. To meet this challenge, SAIS has structured a Forum on Constructive Capitalism as a high-level lecture and symposia series to take advantage of the substantial research and continued controversy over the consequences of globalization for social prosperity and harmony. By providing a forum for the discussion of whether and how increasing trade, financial and production interdependence affects the decisions of employers, labor organizations and government policymakers, we would hope to help formulate concrete policy proposals and recommendations. Such a high-level series will focus attention on these issues in the media and within government and business.
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