Dealing with America’s Debt Overhang

Second Bernard L. Schwartz Economic Symposium

The bursting of the housing and credit bubbles has left the United States
with a huge debt overhang. As a result of the buildup of private sector
debt and the economic crisis, households and firms are finding it difficult to
service debt and lay a foundation for a sustainable recovery.

New America Foundation’s Economic Growth Program hosted
leading economists and public intellectuals to discuss the following questions:

• Can we
  grow our way out of debt without setting off inflation?

• How
  can households reduce their debt levels without killing off demand?

• Does
  the debt pose a threat to the dollar?

Below, you will find several power point presentations, the
agenda, and videos for each panel discussion.

You can also follow this symposium on Twitter.

Panelists’ Presentations

You can access the panelists’ presentations from the symposium by clicking on the links below.

Thomas
Palley Presentation- Budget Deficit Hysteria

Sherle
Schwenninger Presentation- Debt Overhang

Carmen
Reinhart- Fiscal Consequences

Participants