Joseph Stiglitz: The Great Divide

Wed, Apr 29 2015 - 7:00pm

Joseph Stiglitz, Professor, Columbia University; Author, The Great Divide: Unequal Societies and What We Can Do About Them; Twitter @JosephEStiglitz

Monika Bauerlein, Co-editor, Mother Jones; Twitter @MonikaBauerlein — Moderator

We are living in an era defined by economic uncertainty and bitter politics: The gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow, an emboldened Wall Street has shrugged off attempts at regulation, and important political policies have become the playthings of financial interests. Still, economist Joseph Stiglitz believes that a healthy economy and a fair democracy are within our grasp. By taking what he sees as practical political steps, such as making those at the top pay their fair share, spending more in areas that we all value – education, health, and infrastructure – and eliminating the corrosive advantages built into our markets, Stiglitz argues that we can once again create the opportunities that have for so long defined America, and get the country back on track. Stiglitz is a former senior vice president and chief economist of the World Bank and is a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.