Past Events
The Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute brings together economic experts from the University of Minnesota and beyond to highlight key policy insights that can be drawn from economic analysis. These gatherings draw individuals from the academic, policy, media and business communities with the intent of sparking dialogue across sectors.
![Text Climate Policy in Economics over three photos: one of parched dry soil, one of green young crops, one of water with mountains in distance](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/Title%20Only%20for%20Web%20Sept%2022.png?h=2d235432&itok=5lHx7urU)
At a September 2022 policy forum hosted by the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute, University of Minnesota alumnus and Swedish economist Per Krusell explained his research on a global carbon tax and how it can curb the effects of climate change. Read a recap of his research and watch the event recording.
![colorful preschool toys](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/Title%20for%20Web%20May%203%20First%20Years.png?h=ddb1ad0c&itok=_aGGS9rq)
Decades of research clearly show substantial public and private benefits of early childhood education. But translating those findings into well-funded public programs to nurture children from the womb to age 4 has proven a greater challenge. A recent Heller-Hurwicz roundtable on transforming limited trials into widespread public policy illustrated the promise and problems of selling early childhood education to political leaders. Read the policy brief highlighting research by the panelists.
![Photo of Robert Litterman](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/hero-images/robert_litterman-1300x510.jpg?h=22bc7c11&itok=fuGOpxep)
Robert B. Litterman is a founding partner of Kepos Capital, an investment firm based in New York. He is also an alumnus of the University of Minnesota, where he earned a doctorate in economics. Prior to joining Kepos in 2010, Litterman enjoyed a 23-year career at Goldman Sachs, rising to partner and head of the firm-wide risk function. In November 2021, Litterman was presented the Outstanding Achievement Award, the highest nondegree award conferred on university alumni.
![Stock image of Benjamin Franklin with a mask on](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/covid-illustration_econ_bfranklin-with-mask_870x580.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=zfof4_m3)
Join the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute for our virtual spring roundtable, second in a series bringing economic perspectives to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our speakers, Alessandra Fogli and Michèle Tertilt, will share insights from their research as the pandemic continues into a second year. How is this recession affecting women differently than past recessions? What do we know now that we didn't a year ago about the effectiveness of social distancing and stay-at-home orders? Watch the event recording.
![Inequality stock image](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/inequality_stock_image.jpg?h=61419db7&itok=8QujZGSc)
In this roundtable moderated by Marissa Evans of the Star Tribune, guests heard from two researchers adding economic perspectives to the conversation about racial equity in Minnesota. Anusha Nath, research economist at the Federal Research Bank of Minneapolis, spoke about disparities in educational outcomes and the long-term achievement gap in Minnesota students. Aradhya Sood, assistant professor at University of Toronto Scarborough and the Rotman School of Management, shared her research on racial covenants in Minneapolis and the long-term impacts decades later. Watch the event recording.
![Stock image of Benjamin Franklin with a mask on](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/covid-illustration_econ_bfranklin-with-mask_870x580.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=zfof4_m3)
HHEI hosted a webinar on May 20, 2020 featuring U of M economics faculty and alumni researching the COVID-19 pandemic from different angles. What are the trade-offs of different policy proposals? What can we learn from the ways different countries around the world have responded to the pandemic? Where do we go from here? Presenters were: VV Chari, Dirk Krueger, Christopher Phelan, and Aldo Rustichini. Watch the recording of the webinar to learn the answers to these questions and more.
![Profile of person's head facing left into blackness. Head and behind are filled with multicolored numbers, letters, and lines representing the digital world](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/istock-941175572.jpg?h=68fbe9f9&itok=1vrnRnm4)
At work and at home, the digital economy is changing the way we go about our daily routines. Alexa, Spotify, Match.com, Amazon, the Apple Watch, to name a few. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this trend, as the way we work, shop, connect, and consume entertainment changed practically overnight. Avi Goldfarb and Joel Waldfogel will share their research and perspectives on the economics and strategy of technological change.
![Trade NAFTA image](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/tradewars2019_image_cropped.jpg?h=3bd6de55&itok=VhIZJaUy)
With global trade issues making headlines daily and analysts carefully watching for signs of a recession, what advice do economic research and history have to offer? Will USMCA, the "new NAFTA," benefit its member nations? What trade policies have been most beneficial to Minnesota's businesses and residents? Hear from panelists Tim Kehoe, Stephanie Lenway, and Pete Kappelman.
![Panelists are seated on the stage as they are introduced](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/unsorted/images/ec0043_heller-hurwicz_economics_institute_better_retirement-53.jpg?h=8b7966f8&itok=9WNJ55Mc)
Is a secure retirement in the U.S. a thing of the past? Hear what our experts have to say on the latest research findings.
![Image of the base of large marble columns outside of a building](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/dc_website_photo_0.jpg?h=79d0f2e8&itok=YizCky9Y)
Heller-Hurwicz in Washington, D.C. for a panel discussion on building more secure retirement systems on June 3, 2019.
![Photo looking up at a blue cloudy sky and multiple skyscrapers](/sites/cla.umn.edu/files/styles/teaser_image/public/nyc_website_photo.jpg?h=79d0f2e8&itok=DrJLOQbk)
Heller-Hurwicz in New York City for a panel discussion on building more secure retirement systems on May 13, 2019.