(Full session) At a time of skepticism about government programs, experts at the “Combating Inequality” conference at the Peterson Institute for International Conference on October 17-18, 2019 outline ways that government can make a difference. Jason Furman of Harvard, a former senior adviser to President Obama, argues that traditional social safety net programs—like transfer payments, tax credits, and expanded health benefits—have reduced inequality since the 1960s, and that fiscal and monetary policies aimed at expanding employment and growth can do the job in the future. Jesse Rothstein of University of California at Berkeley details micro-economic strategies that work, including unemployment Insurance, nutrition programs and child care credits. Hilary Hoynes of UC Berkeley cites policies that help children—including child tax credits, Medicaid, and nutrition assistance—improves human capital in families. The discussion is moderated by Josh Bivens of the Economic Policy Institute.

For more details on the event, visit https://www.piie.com/events/combating-inequality-rethinking-policies-reduce-inequality-advanced-economies.