Dear Colleagues:

Everybody can agree that government’s economic policies are important, even if they cannot agree on how the government does or should influence the economy.

Beliefs about economic policy will shape how voters assess incumbents and, perhaps even more important, individual and corporate decisions about consumption and investment. What are the consequences of budget deficits? What monetary policy is appropriate? Should there be separate policies about credit? What are the effects of environmental and other regulations? How do taxes affect output? What is the tradeoff between efficiency and equity? What are the effects of encouraging or restricting trade? Our answers will shape our judgments of both the current government and our future economy – if one can figure out what the government is doing.

Unlike in some areas, President Trump’s economic policies seem to be mostly the same as the Administration’s. They also appear to be a mix of standard current Republicanism (cutting regulations and taxes on “job creators,” talking about deficits but only considering spending cuts) with complaints about the Federal Reserve and a very atypical emphasis on perceived national losses from foreign trade. But what can we know about the policies’ effects and how economic actors are responding to them? Mark Sniderman, former Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, joins us to share his expert perspective.

All best regards,
Joe White
Luxenberg Family Professor of Public Policy and Director, Center for Policy Studies

About Our Guest

Mark Sniderman’s academic and professional interests are focused on macroeconomics and financial regulation, especially the roles played by central banks. He is currently studying the unconventional monetary policies being employed by central banks in the wake of the global financial crisis, as well as their newer responsibilities for promoting financial stability. Sniderman came to Case after a career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, culminating in his position as Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer. In that role, Sniderman served as principal adviser to the Bank president for economic and financial policy issues. As a senior executive officer, Sniderman had responsibilities for leadership of the Bank’s economic research, public affairs, and community affairs departments; he also served on the Bank’s management committee. Sniderman chaired the Bank’s Senior Policy Committee and was a member of its Credit Risk Management Committee. During his Federal Reserve career, Sniderman attended more than 100 meetings of the Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed’s monetary policy body; and spoke frequently to public audiences about the economic conditions and monetary policy issues. Sniderman continues to speak on these topics to a variety of business and professional audiences.

Where We Meet

The Friday Public Affairs Lunch convenes each Friday when classes are in session, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Our programs are open to all and no registration is required. We usually meet in the Dampeer Room of Kelvin Smith Library.

* Kelvin Smith Library requires all entrants to show identification when entering the building, unless they have a university i.d. that they can magnetically scan. We are sorry if that seems like a hassle, but it has been Library policy for a while in response to security concerns. Please do not complain to the library staff at the entrance, who are just doing their jobs.

Parking Possibilities

The most convenient parking is the lot underneath Severance Hall. We regret that it is not free. From that lot there is an elevator up to street level (labeled as for the Thwing Center); it is less than 50 yards from that exit to the library entrance. You can get from the Severance garage to the library without going outside. Near the entry gates – just to the right if you were driving out – there is a door into a corridor. Walk down the corridor and there will be another door. Beyond that door you’ll find the entrance to an elevator which goes up to an entrance right inside the doors to Kelvin Smith Library.

Schedule of Friday Lunch Upcoming Topics and Speakers:

April 26: What Do We Know About the Health and Safety Effects of Marijuana: Medical, Recreational, or Otherwise? With Theodore Parran Jr. MD, Isabel and Carter Wang Professor and Chair in Medical Education and Associate Director, Rosary Hall at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.