2020
October 28 Webinar: De-globalization: International Backlash or Opportunity to Rebuild a Cooperative Global Economic Order?
A recording of the webinar is available here.
The Center hosted a webinar about de-globalization. Dr. Michel Amsalem, Managing Partner of Riverside Advisors, LLC; Mr. Erik Peterson, Managing Director of the Global Business Policy Council at A.T. Kearney; and Mr. Robert Svensk, CEO of Trade Credit Underwriters participated in an informative conversation about rising economic nationalism in the world, a subject written about by renowned diplomat and thinker Henry Kissinger in 2008. Moderated by Dr. Fariborz Ghadar, Director of the Center for Global Business Studies, the webinar drew attention to the drivers of de-globalization, including the cross-border movement of factors of production following the Great Recession, technological advances, and economic rivalries – most notably, between the United States and China. Post-World War II global institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and their difficulty in solving the economic problems of today were given a spotlight during the event. The challenges facing global institutions have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spurred large corporate consolidations. China’s desire to pursue its own national economic goals was extensively discussed. In particular, the conversation addressed China’s centrally planned economy that sustained foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows during the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation’s plan to reroute supply chains, and its investment in so-called “Fourth Industrial Revolution” technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, and advanced robotics. Forward-looking remarks were made about the future of global institutions as well as the potential impact of solar and wind technologies on the global energy market.
October 21 Webinar: The Critical Role of Immigrants in the Economies of the Great Lakes Region
A recording of the webinar is available here.
The Center partnered with New American Economy, a bipartisan immigration research and advocacy organization, to host a webinar about immigrants in the Great Lakes region. Dr. Fariborz Ghadar, Director of the Center for Global Business Studies, moderated a conversation about the contributions of immigrants to the Great Lakes region, including the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin. Mrs. Laura Kohler, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Stewardship and Sustainability of the Wisconsin-based Kohler Company, discussed the challenges of recruiting talent in the Midwest region and why public education must stay in lockstep with the needs of the manufacturing, hospitality, and STEM-related fields. Mr. Jeremy Robbins, Executive Director of the New York-based New American Economy, shared insights about immigration trends in the Great Lakes region. Mr. Robbins mentioned that immigrants are represented in several essential worker occupations, from software developers to physicians and surgeons. Immigrants accounted for half of the Great Lakes region’s population growth from 2000 to 2015, with the number of immigrant entrepreneurs in the region growing by 120,000 during the same period. Dr. Zlatan Cizmic of Ascension Providence Hospital in Michigan spoke about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare industry and the need for healthcare services for immigrants in underserved areas. The unique perspectives of the panelists emphasized that immigration presents large opportunities for the region, but communities need to be prepared.