Clean Infrastructure

NDN Backgrounder: Rebuilding the American Economy

This week, the White House release results of the "stress tests" and President Obama presented a vision for retraining the American workforce. NDN is pleased to present a number of recommended pieces on rebuilding the financial system, the American workforce, the housing market, and a number of other important items on America's economic future.

  • Short Sales and the Market Meltdown by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 5/7/2009 - Reflecting on a recent speaking engagement with SEC commissioners, Shapiro argues for additional regulation of short sales.
  • Obama: Upgrade Worker Skills Through Community Colleges by Jake Berliner, 5/5/2009 - In a recent interview, President Obama advocated using the nation's community colleges as a resource for worker IT training, an NDN proposal that Rep. John Larson introduced as legislation.
  • Should We Try to Save the Damaged Brands? by Simon Rosenberg, 4/30/2009 - Rosenberg asks if these mainstay, now troubled American brands - AIG, Chrysler, Citi, GM - can be saved by being propped up by the government or if their brands are permanently insolvent.
  • Carbonomics by Michael Moynihan, 4/2/2009 - Moynihan looks at the connection between pricing carbon and the future of the American automobile industry.
  • 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.
  • Back to Basics: The Treasury Plan Won't Work by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 9/24/2008 - As the financial crisis unfolded and the Bush Administration offered its response, Shapiro argued that, while major action was needed, the Treasury's plan would be ineffective.
  • Keep People in Their Homes by Simon Rosenberg and Dr. Robert Shapiro, 9/23/2008 – At the beginning of the financial collapse, NDN offered this narrative-shaping essay and campaign on the economic need to stabilize the housing market.

NDN Backgrounder: What Future for the American Auto Industry?

As Sam told us in his morning round-up, Chrysler is to undergo a "surgical bankruptcy" process that will leave the United Auto Workers with a controlling stake in the company, with Fiat and the US Government as junior partners. In addition, as Dr. Rob Shapiro discussed Tuesday on Fox News, the federal government and the Auto Workers now own 89 percent of GM and on his 100th day in office, President Obama said that he wanted the federal government out of the auto business as quickly as possible. NDN has been following the automakers and their search for a profitable future for quite a while, so enjoy this backgrounder on the American auto industry.

  • Here in the Real World They're Shutting Detroit Down by Morely Winograd and Mike Hais, 4/30/2009 - NDN Fellow Winograd and Hais pont out that GM's problems come at a time when the inherent tension between the investor class and the country's manufacturing sector have never been greater.
  • Should We Try to Save the Damaged Brands? by Simon Rosenberg, 4/30/2009 - Rosenberg asks if these mainstay, now troubled American brands - AIG, Chrysler, Citi, GM - can be saved by being propped up by the government or if their brands are permanently insolvent.
  • Carbonomics by Michael Moynihan, 4/2/2009 - Moynihan looks at the connection between pricing carbon and the future of the American automobile industry.
  • Sympathy for the Car Guys by Michael Moynihan, 12/5/2008 - Moynihan compares Capitol Hill's treatment of Wall Street CEOs to that the auto makers received.
  • With recent news that Congress and the Obama Adminsitration are interested in a "Cash for Clunkers" proposal, enjoy this video from a Green Project event on August 1, 2008 during which Jack Hidary speaks about this idea.

Globalization Initiative

NDN's Globalization Initiative was established to promote economic growth and restore broad-based prosperity in our globalized economy. Chaired by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs under President Bill Clinton, the program works to address the structural changes affecting the American and global economies. NDN argues that a "lost decade," marked by declining household incomes, remains the most important factor in the American economy and politics.

Our agenda for addressing the structural changes inherent in the era of globalization includes three key components: modernizing our healthcare and energy policies, investing in 21st century skills and infrastructure, and accelerating innovation across the economy. NDN also continues to play a major role in the debate over how to best manage the Great Recession and fosters dialogue around renewing the national consensus on global economic liberalization.


Papers and Memos

A New, Progressive Economic Strategy for America released 5/11: By Robert J. Shapiro
Written over a series of weeks in April 2010, this collection of four pieces lays out a new economic strategy for America that creates broad-based prosperity and addresses the America's great economic challenges in the era of globalization.
 
Building on recent struggles in Congress to do more for the economy than pass the extension of unemployment insurance, NDN outlines a political and policy framework to take steps in 2010 that promote near-term job creation and economic growth.
 
In this white paper, Globalization Initiative Deputy Policy Director Jake Berliner describes the rise of new economic powers and the challenges and opportunities they are presenting the American and global economies.
 
Keeping the Focus on the Struggle of Everyday People: 2010 Edition 1/26/10: By Simon Rosenberg
This memo argues that the nation would benefit from a shift to economic rhetoric and policy geared towards the struggle of everyday Americans. 
Crafting an American Response to the Rise of the Rest 1/21/10: By Simon Rosenberg  Cross posted on NDN.org and Salon.com
Simon argues that the second generation Obama narrative must be a strategic response to the most significant transformation taking place in the world today, what Fareed Zakaria has called the “rise of the rest.” While the true scope of this transformation is only really becoming apparent now, it leaves our new President with the historic opportunity, and tremendous responsibility, to craft a comprehensive strategic response to this global “new politics” of the 21st century.
 
A Lost Decade for Everyday Americans 12/17/09:  By Jake Berliner
In this paper, Jake Berliner, Deputy Policy Director of NDN's Globalization Initiative, argues that everyday Americans are at the end of a “lost decade” and explains the still misunderstood causes of the virulence of the recession.
 
The Key to the Fall Debate: Staying Focused on the Economy 9/03/09: By Simon Rosenberg
The last few months have not been good ones for Democrats, but there is a road map for how they can get back on track, and it revolves around staying relentlessly focused on the economy and the struggle of every day people.
 
A Stimulus for the Long Run 11/14/08: By Simon Rosenberg and Robert J. Shapiro
Congress and President-elect Obama can use the stimulus not only to create more jobs, but to do so in ways that will drive the development of a 21st century economic infrastructure.
 
This narrative setting essay argues that leaders must do more to staunch the foreclosure crisis, which was at the heart of the financial meltdown.
 
The Idea-Based Economy and Globalization 1/23/08: By Robert J. Shapiro
U.S. companies and workers lead the world in developing and applying new intellectual property, a critical advantage in innovation that policymakers should seek to advance in the age of globalization.
 
Investing in Our Common Future: U.S. Infrastructure 11/13/07: By Michael Moynihan
Michael Moynihan looks at the current state of public investment in infrastructure and proposes a set of measures to restore our national political will and improve funding mechanisms to rebuild and advance U.S. infrastructure.
 
This presentation details the results of extensive polling conducted by NDN and Benenson Strategy Group in October of 2007 on the American public's opinions about globalization and the changing economy.
 
NDN Poll: Americans’ Views of the Present and Future Economy - Anxiety and Opportunity 11/6/07: By Pete Brodnitz
NDN, a progressive think tank and advocacy organization, completed a national survey on the economy and globalization on October 15th. This memo is the second of two memos outlining key findings and analysis from the poll.
 
NDN Poll: Clamoring for Change, Persistent Pessimism, Democrats Dominating on Economic Issues
11/2/07: By Pete Brodnitz
NDN, a progressive think tank and advocacy organization, completed a national survey on the economy and globalization on October 15th. This is the first of two memos outlining key findings and analysis from the poll.

Tapping the Resources of America’s Community Colleges: 7/26/07: By Robert J. Shapiro

Young Americans are increasingly adept at working with computers, but many American workers still lack those skills. Here, we propose a direct new approach to giving U.S. workers the opportunity to develop those skills.

We can address the challenges of the 21st century economy without sacrificing the benefits of globalization and technological advance, principally by expanding public investments in critical areas and reforming health care and energy policies.
 
A Laptop in Every Backpack 5/1/07: By Simon Rosenberg
We believe that America needs to put a laptop in every backpack of every child. We need to commit to a date and grade certain: we suggest 2010 for every sixth grader.
 
Voters Deliver a Mandate for a New Economic Strategy 11/10/06: By Simon Rosenberg
The American people want the new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate to focus and pursue an aggressive strategy to help them and their families get ahead.
 
Crafting a Better CAFTA 6/9/05: By Simon Rosenberg
We believe that an agreement with Central America is so important to how Americans approach the 21st century that we must commit ourselves to help negotiate and pass a better CAFTA.

Major Events

Growing the Next Economy 12/7/11
On Wednesday, December 7th, NDN hosted the Director of Multi-State Initiatives in the Office of Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and Karl Agne, a partner at GBA Strategies, for a lunchtime discussion about bottom up economic growth, accelerating the ideas that work, and creating the Next Economy. Joining us were 

A Look at Current Global & Domestic Economic Challenges 7/26/11
On Tuesday, July 26th NDN hosted a morning conversation about the economic challenges facing America and the world featuring views from the United States Senate, House and the British House of Commons.

Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco J Sanchez at NDN 4/26/11
On Tuesday, April 26, NDN hosted Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco J Sanchez. Sanchez was joined by NDN Globalization Initiative Chair and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs Dr. Robert Shapiro.

National Economic Council Deputy Director Jason Furman on Winning the Future 2/22/11
Following the release of the President's budget, Jason Furman, the Principal Deputy Director of the National Economic Council joined NDN for a discussion of the budget, the economy, and the President's strategy to make America competitive in the global economy of the 21st century.

Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Robert Hormats on Global Economic Challenges 11/15/10
On November 15, NDN hosted Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats for an important address on global economic challenges.

US Ambassador to the OECD Karen Kornbluh on Jobs for the Future 7/27/10
On July 27, NDN hosted the United States' Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Karen Kornbluh. Ambassador Kornbluh, who previously served as Senator Barack Obama's Policy Director and as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Treasury Department, discussed a wide range of issues in creating "Growth and Jobs for the Future," from youth unemployment, to innovation, to U.S. engagement at the OECD.
 
On Wednesday, June 16, NDN hosted a speech by Congressman Ron Kind (WI-3), Vice-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition and Co-Chair of the NDC Task Force on Innovation and Competitiveness. Kind spoke about the value of innovation to the American economy and the recently released New Dem Agenda for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Kind was joined by NDN President Simon Rosenberg.
 
Fred Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Speaks at NDN. 6/10/10
On June 10 NDN hosted a speech from the Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank, Fred Hochberg, on the National Export Initiative and the work of the Export-Import Bank. NDN Globalization Initiative Chair Dr. Robert Shapiro moderated a discussion and Q&A following the Chairman's remarks.
 
Senator Mark Warner on Economic Competitiveness and Innovation 3/18/10
On Thursday, March 18, Senator Mark Warner joined NDN to address America's economic competitiveness in a rapidly changing global economy. He discussed the role of innovation in creating prosperity and offered his perspective on the Senate's work to craft a new economic strategy for America, which includes reforming the nation's health care and financial sectors.
 
FCIC Chairman Phil Angelides on “Examining Our Financial Past to Secure Our Economic Future” 2/2/10
On Tuesday, February 2, NDN hosted an address from Phil Angelides, Chairman of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission. Formerly the Treasurer of the State of California, Mr. Angelides has been charged by Congress to lead the effort examining the causes of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. He discussed the commission's work, which began in earnest in February with much anticipated hearings. NDN Globalization Initiative Chair Dr. Robert Shapiro introduced Mr. Angelides and opened the event with contextual remarks.

Blogs

Visit the Globalization Initiative blog for more of our ongoing work.

Visit Globalization Initiative Chair Robert Shapiro's blog.

Visit Globalization Initiative Deputy Policy Director Jake Berliner's blog.

The Globalization Initiative was established to promote economic growth and restore broad-based prosperity in our globalized economy, with a focus on modernizing economic policy, investing in workers and students, and accelerating innovation.

Climate Change Alarmism

Anyone following the debate over cap and market legislation has probably noticed the growing alarmism voiced by opponents. Leaving aside the substance of attacks, their tenor has grown increasingly biting. During recent hearings held by Chairman Markey, opponents unleashed a fusillade of arrows ranging from dire warnings to shrill personal attacks on Vice President Gore who testified in support of cap and market legislation. What is most remarkable about the alarmism, as Paul Krugman point out in his column today, however, is that it is coming from the same people who ordinarily have an unbounded faith in markets to cope with any obstacle. Newt Gingrich, for example, who has at times been an evangelist for markets and the future, testified at the same hearing that putting a price on carbon would be devastating for the US economy. In fact, as Krugman writes today, the impact of a carbon regime is likely to be mild and gradual. Yet junk economics, he argues, is becoming as widespread in the climate change debate as junk science. While a cap and market regime is likely to increase prices of emissions-intensive commodities such as electricity, cement and steel over time, the increases will phase in slowly. According to data from MIT's Emmissions Prediction and Policy Group, cited by Krugman, even stringent limits would lead to a reduction of only 2% in consumer demand by 2050. The short term impact on GDP--from higher prices--would be almost negligible. Yet there is more to the story. While any negative effects would not show up for years, Krugman points out that a carbon regime might well stimulate growth in the near term. Were congress to mandate caps to begin phasing in three years from now, the impact on prices would be negligible in the short term, but the prospect of caps would stimulate capital investment today, driving up the investment component of GDP and exerting a multiplier effect on consumption--exactly what the economy needs during a slowdown. In short cap and market legislation won't hurt the economy much, will at most trim demand in the future and might actually help the economy now. If you throw in the fact that developing new technologies is something the US has to do if it does not want to compete with countries such as china and India solely on cost, the economic case for putting a price on carbon is there. Oh, and there is also the benefit preventing the very real costs of higher temperatures, rising sea levels and climate instability.

The Chrysler Bankruptcy: Don't Let it Happen to GM

Of the two members of the Big Three automakers receiving government life support, Chrysler was the weakest and therefore most widely prophesied to enter bankruptcy. Nonetheless the fulfillment of that prophesy with the "surgical" Chapter 11 Bankruptcy announced today is unfortunate. Occasioned by the refusal of some hedge funds holding Chrysler's debt to make a deal, hedge funds that the President did not hesitate to call out in his midday remarks, the bankruptcy opens a new chapter in the auto bailout. If all goes as expected, the company will emerge with a deal similar to that turned down by the bondholders which creates a new Chrysler allied with Fiat free of a large amount of debt and wage and pension obligations. The big question mark is whether the judge will ratify the prepackaged plan or whether the hedge funds can somehow use the bankrupty process to undo the deal.

While GM seems stronger than Chrysler, in some ways it is the more difficult case. There is no Fiat waiting in the wings to invest in GM. And becaue GM's bonds are far more widely held than Chrysler's, the bondholder committee that currently exists represents only about a third of debt outstanding and thus may have even greater difficulty striking a deal that all the bondholders support. A GM bankruptcy would be far more complex than one for Chrysler because of the size and scope of GM's operations.

As I mentioned in a previous post, two processes should commence immediately to make the most of a difficult situation.

First, the Administration should begin aggressively negotiating with bondholders in order to have the best chance of striking a deal. Secondly, rather than just scuttle business lines such as Pontiac and Saturn--what GM has proposed, GM should actively try to transfer these highly perishable, yet potentially valuable assets to others. Unwanted GM plants and dealer networks, invigorated with new capital, could easily become the nucleus of a new, high growth American electric car industry. But that will only happen if GM and the Auto Task force work quickly to convert challenge to opportunity.

Clean Tech--The First 100 Days

New York City-The first 100 days of the Obama Administration have not been as jam packed with legislative action as those of the Roosevelt Administration which saw a bank holiday, a major farm bill, the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Glass Steagal Act among major initiatives. But they've been remarkable. In its first 100 days the Administration has worked with smooth dispatch to repair the raft of problems it inherited from its disfunctional predecessor. In clean technology the major accomplishment has been the huge investments in grid modernization, energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean infrastructure contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In normal circumstances those investments would be considered energy policy milestones. In the current environment at a moment when America finds itselves at a crossroads between an old and a new economy, they represent only a beginning. If America is serious about building a low carbon, high productivity economy, far more needs to be done to modernize our energy infrastructure, drive research and development in energy technology and ultimately lower the carbon intensity of the economy. This race is properly speaking a marathon. Three broad things are necessary to lay the groundwork for a clean economy-wide transformation. First, the social costs of carbon emissions need to be globally internalized in the price of carbon. The most promising regulatory approach is a globally harmonized cap and market system such as that in place in Europe and proposed by Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey. The Administration supports this approach but has room to engage more forcefully, particularly once the legislation is taken up in the Senate. Second, technology must advance in order to bring the cost of low carbon energy sources below that of their high carbon alternatives. The President signaled his determination to double R&D spending last week over 10 years. But the hard legislative work must still take place to make this a reality. Third, a new regulatory structure must be established--particularly with respect to electricity but also with respect to transportation --that unlocks the power of clean technology--by opening up the grid and by altering transportation funding to end the preference for road over rail. This is a complex, but critical step--that more and more people are beginning to discuss. In short, in its first 100 days, the Administration has made a good start. But the marathon is only beginning.

Preserving America's Clean Auto Future

New York City - Yesterday, two things happened that in my mind should be connected but are not. The White House sponsored a car show---of energy efficient American vehicles right on the White House grounds. Later in the day GM announced it would not make almost any cars this summer. The rapid slide of GM--once the greatest company in America and still a prime driver of economic growth--into oblivion poses many problems for the American economy. But what would be doubly tragic for our country's future, however, is if the auto industry is allowed to slip away on the very eve of what may be a whole new growth chapter in auto history—as suggested by yesterday’s White House event--the development of clean cars. As I have written in a previous post, China which recently passed the US to become the world's largest car market is simultaneously embarking on a coordinated strategy to become the world's leader in the production of electric vehicles. China has every change of succeeding, first because of low costs, second because it now has about 100 companies making cars and, not least, because the government has targeted success in electric vehicles as a top priority at the precise moment that the US government seems willing to allow much of the US car industry to slide into bankrtupcy. The argument in favor of a pre-packaged bankrtupcy is, of course, that Chapter 11 allows companies to shed debt and labor contracts and re-emerge lean and mean. Oh Thank Heaven for Chapter 11 was the saying in Texas during the oil bust. Any number of airlines have been through bankruptcy and re-emerged. And, in a new twist, the government has proposed a good company bad company approach modeled after banking restructuring proposals--that would shift the obligations of GM to a bad side freeing the good side to emerge as profitable contender. The problem is that bankruptcy--even the Chapter 11 variety--carries immense risks, both legal and financial, adding up to huge uncertainty. On the legal side, bankrupty imparts significant discretion to a judge to do what he or she deems fairest for all parties, making bankruptcy far from a predictable event. Judges, in turn, must be sensitive to the risk of lawsuits from creditors, unions and affected parties. Veteran bankruptcy attorneys, commenting on the GM situation have observed that these factors are likely to make bankruptcy far more complex in reality than the simple process described in the press. Delco, the auto parts maker is undergoing a messy Chapter 11 proceeding. On the financial side, if conditions deteriorate, then a Chapter 11 bankruptcy can turn into a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the kind where the companies close their doors and liquidate. This is what happened to Circuit City recently and has happened to many other firms. GM's banktuptcy would be vastly more complicated than almost any bankruptcy in history-occurring in multiple countries--with multiple regulators--and the likely delay in re-emerging out of Chapter 11 could easily cause the company to collapse in the meantime. Bankruptcy status would almost certainly impact sales, lower prices and start the clock ticking on the erosion of assets. So what can be done? Two things come to mind. First, the parties that ultimately decide whether a company must file bankruptcy are its creditors (which can include unions when there are pension and wage obligations). If the creditors are willing to make a deal with the company, bankruptcy can be averted. The key--particularly with a company as large as GM is to organize the tremendous numbers of bond holders into a group. A bondholders group exists for GM but so far the Auto Task Force has not actively explored this option. (Negotiations are underway with Chrysler but the parties are far apart.) Another approach is for the company to sell off or transfer as many assets as possible before bankruptcy. It so happens that GM has many great assets that would lose all of their value after bankrtupcy but can still be salvaged prior to bankrtupcy occurring preserving jobs, value and in particular, America's clean economic future. In the United States, a number of influential Congressmen have suggested that GM's assets can be repurposed to building a clean transportation infrastructure here in the United States--but only if the Auto Task Force works rapidly to make this happen. Why not turn a part of GM, for example, into EM or Electric Motors. Electric vehicle manufacturers or companies helping to develop America's next generation of clean cars could repurpose existing GM assets for the manufacture of electric cars right here in the United States. Repurposing facilities that GM intends to close anyway into electric vehicle manufacturing, injecting new capital and preserving American jobs would be a win win for all concerned. Indeed, the Financial Times reports that GM is in discussions to transfer its Opel/Vauxhaull and Saab units in Europe to investors who would put in new capital to revive them. The German and Swedish governments would provide financing and facilitate the deal. Ultimately, if the US is to make good on President Obama's call to develop a clean energy economy--one that creates good high paying jobs and can power a new wave of prosperity, we must preserve and indeed expand our industrial base--not allow it to disappear. The issue is critical in those parts of the country where auto-related manufacturing takes place--states like Michigan and Ohio but also Tennessee and Kentucky Make no mistake. If GM and Chrysler’s plants shut down, do not expect Ford, Toyota, Honda or even innovative startups such as Tesla to pick up the slack. The evisceration of the US supply chain would incent not only Toyota and Honda but even Ford to source more of their parts, components and even cars overseas than they already do. The auto task force and Congress should work now--to put off bankruptcy and restructure GM and Chrysler--in a way that brightens our clean energy future rather than dims it.

China, the World's Largest Car Market and the Future of the Electric Car

A little known artifact of the implosion of the US auto market is that China has now surpassed America as the world's largest market for cars.  Now, the New York Times reports, China is plotting a strategy to accomplish for electric car manufacturing what it has already done in computers, toys and just about everything else.

Yesterday, Chinese officials, including Minister of Science and Technology, Wan Gang, a former Audi engineer detailed a plan to make China the world leader in electric cars.  It is a very achievable goal for the world's largest manufacturer that now sports the world's largest car market as well.  The effort involves a concerted effort by "manufacturers, universities, research institutes and government agencies" to overcome any obstacles.

The centerpiece of the strategy is a $8,800 (60,000 yuan) subsidy for taxi fleets and government agencies purchasing cars to make them more affordable but leave the buyer free to choose the car of their choice.  The program is thus more ambitious than the complex US tax credit program included in the stimulus bill that provides a tax credit of from $2500 to $7500 depending on a variety of factors.

China's policy shows more of the market friendly industrial policy that China has used to convert its vast reserve of cheap labor into an industrial V-8 engine. 

With the nascent but eventually gigantic electric car business entirely up for grabs, China is laying down the gauntlet to a US industry that is on the ropes and, at the moment, largely in the hands of one man: financier and now auto czar Steve Rattner. 

What should the US do?

First, it is vital that Rattner together with the other US officials overseeing the auto bailout, at all costs, insure that the US industry survives standing on three feet, not one, with all of the Big Three still intact and not hobbled by excessive downsizing.  The report of the taskforce that rejected GM and Chrysler's recovery plans, prompting Rattner to fire GM's well regarded CEO, Rick Wagoner, seemed to blame the US firms for failing to make investments in cleaner cars.  In fact, such investments cost the companies money in the short term and run entirely counter the goal of preserving capital to survive.  The US auto downturn is due, almost entirely, to a disappearance of credit.  GM, most advocates of clean energy vehicles believe, deserves considerable credit for its muli-billion investment in the Chevy Volt.  The fact is, the halving of US auto sales from about 18 million to under 10 million vehicles is due to the financial crisis.  Extraordinary volatility in fuel prices may have played a small role--but this was impossible for the auto companies to plan for--and may have reflected lack of financial oversight of commodity index trading as well.

True, the US may yet create new car companies from scratch.  Tesla, the VC-backed maker of a sleek electric drive sports car that can go zero to 60 in under 4 seconds has seen its sales increase from 14 million last year to a projected 140 million this year.  However, for Tesla to make the jump to the consumer market, it will need government guaranteed credit.  It has been waiting for more than a year for a loan to build a factory in Calfironia which the Department of Energy has yet to release.  Similarly, the Big Three are still waiting for the $25 billion promised them to make the transition to cleaner vehicles.  Had they received this money, they would not be in their current predicament.

If the US doesn't want to be left out of the electric car future, the first task is to extend the necessary credit on non-onerous terms to the carmakers to survive a crisis not of their making.  Once they are healthy, we should consider subsidies and a concerted effort similar to China's to assist them in what promises to be a brutal battle to control the future of automobiles--or we should pressure China to eliminate such subsidies but we cannot expect US companies to beat highly subsidized competitors.

Ultimately, however, without a robust auto industry in which GM and Chrysler are still standing, it is unlikely that we will even be in the running.

NDN Backgrounder: A Long Great Recession, No Trust In Wall Street, Carbonomics

With President Obama meeting with his top economic advisers today, NDN is pleased to present some of our recent and most important economic analysis.

  • Thoughts on Wall Street 2.0 by Simon Rosenberg, 4/9/2009 - Roseberg explored the crisis of trust between the American people, the world, and Wall Street.
  • Friedman on a Carbon Tax by Michael Moynihan, 4/8/2009 - Moynihan discusses Thomas Friedman's column calling for a carbon tax and delves into the politics of pricing carbon.
  • Carbonomics by Michael Moynihan, 4/2/2009 - Moynihan looks at the connection between pricing carbon and the future of the American automobile industry.
  • 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.
  • Back to Basics: The Treasury Plan Won't Work by Dr. Robert Shapiro, 9/24/2008 - As the financial crisis unfolded and the Bush Administration offered its response, Shapiro argued that, while major action was needed, the Treasury's plan would be ineffective.
  • Keep People in Their Homes by Simon Rosenberg and Dr. Robert Shapiro, 9/23/2008 – At the beginning of the financial collapse, NDN offered this narrative-shaping essay and campaign on the economic need to stabilize the housing market.
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