THE NEW SCHOOL'S ECONOMIC POLICY CENTER LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE AS ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ACCESSIBLE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

SCEPA's EconomicPolicyResearch.org Challenges Economic Orthodoxy, Tackles Issues of Pension Reform, Budget Deficits, and the Future of Economics

NEW YORK, April 18, 2011—The Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA), The New School's economic policy think tank, introduces EconomicPolicyResearch.org, an online resource for in-depth research on the most pressing issues of economic policy. In keeping with The New School's tradition of bringing cutting-edge academic thought to the public, the site challenges dominant economic discourse with alternative analysis presented in an accessible, straightforward style.

"SCEPA's new website is a platform for economic thought in a post-crisis, post-recession world," said Teresa Ghilarducci, SCEPA Director and labor economist. "Now is the time for new perspectives. Now is the time for public policies and civil institutions that support the long-term needs of citizens as well as productive economic actors. EconomicPolicyResearch.org is a resource for legislators and scholars, and anyone interested in gaining a complete understanding of how economic forces are changing our society."

EconomicPolicyResearch.org broadens SCEPA's mission to empower policy makers to create positive change. It provides research and commentary from The New School's top economists, including Teresa Ghilarducci, director of SCEPA and a nationally recognized expert on pensions and retirement; Will Milberg, the chair of the economics department at The New School for Social Research and an expert on supply chains and labor market outcomes; and Jeff Madrick, a senior fellow at SCEPA and author of The Case for Big Government.

The site features an up-to-the-minute blog of leading heterodox economist's take on policy issues, fully downloadable research papers, and video and podcasts of SCEPA lectures and panels with top economists from around the globe. The blog is split up into micro-sites focused on SCEPA's main research projects, including pension reform, budget deficits, financial reform and climate change.

1. Guaranteeing Retirement Income Project
Addressing the growing crisis in retirement insecurity—for both public and private employees—this project puts forth Guaranteed Retirement Accounts (GRAs) as a federal policy reform proposal to address the failure of retirement vehicles such as the 401(k)s.

2. Deficit Commission Project
This online project is dedicated to providing a full analysis of proposed deficit and budgetary reforms from the viewpoint of how best to raise living standards, create economic security, and attain full employment.

3. Future of Economics
SCEPA's economists are working on the prospects of a more progressive economic order to emerge from the shock of the recession. They have published papers to place current events in a longer-term context as well as policy proposals to deal with short-term concerns. Additionally, SCEPA's Future of Economics blog provides tracks the discourse among professionals, journalists and academics on the effects of the recession on the future of economic study.

4. Economics of Climate Change
SCEPA is investigating the economic effects of climate change policy in light of the United States' fragile economy and the post-Copenhagen tensions between developed and developing countries.

ABOUT THE SCHWARTZ CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY ANALYSIS (SCEPA)
SCEPA is an economic policy think tank located within the Department of Economics at The New School for Social Research. SCEPA works to focus the public economics debate on the role government can and should play in the real productive economy — that of business, management, and labor—to raise living standards, create economic security, and attain full employment. With a focus on collaboration and outreach, SCEPA provides original, standards-based research to engage the public, opinion leaders and elected officials in the discussion of how to create a more stable, equitable, and prosperous economy. For more information, visit www.economicpolicyresearch.org.

ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL
Located in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village, The New School is a center of academic excellence where intellectual and artistic freedoms thrive. More than 10,200 matriculated students and 6,400 continuing education students enjoy a disciplined education supported by small class sizes, superior resources, and renowned working faculty members who practice what they teach. The New School is comprised of The New School for General Studies, The New School for Social Research, Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy, Parsons The New School for Design, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Mannes College The New School for Music, The New School for Drama, and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. For more information, please visit http://www.newschool.edu.

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