In a recent column , world-renowned economist Jeffrey Sachs wrote, “the White House is in turmoil; Congress is paralyzed; and the world is looking on in astonishment and dread.” Sachs, who has advised former UN secretaries general and Senator Bernie Sanders, says he’s distressed about the political and social atmosphere in the United States.
He says we’ve reached a point where, with technological advances, we can either choose to do the ultimate good or create unimaginable disaster. We have the power to end poverty, he says, transition to a low-carbon economy, and protect the earth’s biodiversity. But, he thinks, progress is held up in Washington by special interests.
In this episode, he speaks with Steve Clemons, Washington editor-at-large of The Atlantic, about why the benefits of globalization aren’t being equally distributed, how the Republicans’ efforts to undo Obamacare are misguided, and why the US needs a “ministry of planning.”
Discover more about what’s discussed in this episode by clicking the links below.
- The End of Poverty, Jeffrey Sachs
- The Age of Sustainable Development, Jeffrey Sachs
- Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet, Jeffrey Sachs
- The New Urban Crisis, Richard Florida
- Columns written by Jeffrey Sachs
The “Aspen Ideas to Go” podcast is a weekly show featuring fascinating speakers who have presented at the Aspen Ideas Festival and other public programs offered by the Aspen Institute — including Aspen Words, the Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series, and various events around the country. For a curated listening experience, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or listen to each episode on the Aspen Ideas website.
