NDN Backgrounder: Worker Skills and International Economic Policy for the 21st Century

Yesterday, House Democratic Caucus Chair John Larson introduced H.R. 2060, The Community College Technology Access Act of 2009. This legislation is based on a paper written by NDN Globalization Initiative Chair Dr. Robert Shapiro entitled Tapping the Resources of America’s Community Colleges: A Modest Proposal to Provide Universal Computer Training. Also, I'd like to recommend our upcoming livestream on Monday of a major address from the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander. For more information on that event, click here.

In the spirit of both of these major events, please enjoy this backgrounder on 21st century skills and a new approach to international development, complete with the Friday videos you've come to expect here on the NDN blog.

  • The Fallout of the Great Recession for Trade by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 2/11/2009 - Shapiro argues that the world is currently experiencing the economic symptoms of protectionism without actual protectionist measures being put in place, which could have dangerous consequences for the global economy.
  • The Global Economic Crisis and Future Ambassadorial Appointments by Simon Rosenberg, 11/26/2008 - With the mammoth task of rebuilding international financial architecture and recovering from a global recession awaiting the new President, Rosenberg points out the the ambassadors to the G20 nations will be key members of the economic team.
  • A Stimulus for the Long Run by Simon Rosenberg and Dr. Robert Shapiro, 11/14/2008 – This important essay lays out the now widely agreed-upon argument that the upcoming economic stimulus package must include investments in the basic elements of growth for the next decade, including elements that create a low-carbon, energy-efficient economy.
  • Harnessing the Mobile Revolution by Tom Kalil, 10/9/2008 - Tom Kalil, now the Associate Director for Policy of the White House Office of Science and Technology, authored this paper for the New Policy Institute. The paper argued that mobile communications technology can be a powerful tool for addressing some of the greatest challenges of the 21st century.
  • NDN Endorses the Global Povery Act, 4/30/2008 - NDN endorsed legislation sponsored by Rep. Adam Smith and Sen. Barack Obama that was designed to help the United States achieve the UN Millenium Development Goals.
  • Senator Obama Embraces Key NDN Proposal, 11/19/2007 - As a presidential candidate, then-Senator Barack Obama endorsed an NDN proposal to utlize the nation's community colleges for worker IT training.
  • A Laptop in Every Backpack by Simon Rosenberg and Alec Ross, 5/1/2007 – Rosenberg and the One Economy Corporation’s Ross offer a modest proposal for putting a laptop in the backpack of every American sixth grader, as connectivity to and facility with the global communications network are essential for success in the 21st century.
  • Alec Ross, now the Senior Advisor for Innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Congressman Larson spoke about the importance of worker skills as a July, 2007 NDN forum on Capitol Hill.