Wilson Center Experts
Kent Hughes
Director, Program on America and the Global Economy
Program on America and the Global Economy
Contact Information:
T 202/691-4136
// F 202/691-4001
Expertise:
Economics and Globalization
; Trade and Development
; NAFTA
; Education
; U.S. Politics
; U.S. Domestic Policy
; North America
; United States
Kent H. Hughes is currently the Director of the Program on America and the Global Economy (PAGE) at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. As part of the PAGE agenda, he published a book, Building the Next American Century: The Past and Future of American Economic Competitiveness (Wilson Center Press 2005), which emphasizes the importance of innovation and education to America’s future. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Hughes served as Associate Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, president of the private sector Council on Competitiveness, and in a number of senior positions with the U.S. Congress. Prior to his congressional service, Dr. Hughes served as a staff attorney for the Urban Law Institute. He was also an International Legal Center Fellow and Latin American Teaching Fellow in Brazil where he worked on a reform of Brazilian legal education.
Dr. Hughes holds a Ph.D. in economics from Washington University, a LL.B. from Harvard Law School and a B.A in Political and Economic Institutions from Yale University. He serves on the Executive Advisory Board of FIRST Robotics and is a member of the D.C. Bar, American Bar Association and the American Economic Association.
Major Publications
- "Innovation in the United States: The Interplay of History, Institutions, and American Culture," AICGS Policy Report 26 (American Institute of Contemporary German Studies, 2006)
- "Are the Wheels Coming Off the American Auto Industry?" The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 14, 2006
- Building the Next American Century: The Past and Future of Economic Competitiveness, (Woodrow Wilson Center Press and The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005)
- "R&D Can Keep America Competitive Amid New Challenges," Chronicle of Higher Education, November 30, 2001
- "The Currency Conundrum," editor (Woodrow Wilson Center, 2001)
- Trade, Taxes, and Transnationals: International Economic Decision Making in Congress (Westview Press, 1979)
- "Building the American Dream: Jobs, Innovation, and Growth in America's Next Century," The 1996 Competitiveness Report of the U.S. Department of Commerce
Related Content for this Expert
Strengthening America: Inventing the Future
Nov 28, 2012The U.S. innovation system has enormous strengths, including public and private support for research and development, the world’s best university system, and an entrepreneurial risk-taking culture. But those elements of the system now face
several domestic and international challenges. The United States will need to maintain support for research and development (R&D), improve its education system, and learn from best practices around the world if it is to compete in the 21st century.
more
Sub-Saharan Africa: Maintaining Growth in an Uncertain World
November 13, 2012 // 10:30am — 12:00pm
The IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, launched in Tokyo on October 12, 2012, highlights that economic conditions in the region have remained generally robust against the backdrop of a sluggish global economy. The near-term outlook for the region is also broadly positive: growth is projected at 5¼ percent a year through 2012–13. However, there is considerable diversity within the region, with low income countries and oil producers currently faring better than middle income countries closely linked to European markets. more
Making a Success of Every School
Nov 06, 2012The Program on America and the Global Economy along with Paul Vallas, Distinguished Scholar and noted education reformer recently released a publication identifying the main challenges facing U.S. education in the 21st century. more
Making a Success of Every School: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century
Nov 06, 2012The Program on America and the Global Economy along with Paul Vallas, Distinguished Scholar and noted education reformer recently released a publication identifying the main challenges facing U.S. education in the 21st century. more
Book Discussion: Waging War on Corruption
December 12, 2012 // 9:00am — 10:30am
“Waging War on Corruption – Inside the Movement Fighting the Abuse of Power “ is about power. It is an insider’s account of extraordinary battles against the abuse of public office by politicians and officials for their personal gain. This is a global journey from the birth of pioneering anti-corruption organization Transparency International in 1993, to the Arab Spring in 2011, as courageous people in scores of countries challenge authority and fight for justice. At stake is nothing less than our global security, the reduction of poverty, the stability of our economic and financial systems, and the cause of freedom and democracy. more
Book Launch: Better Capitalism: Renewing the Entrepreneurial Strength of the American Economy
October 24, 2012 // 9:00am — 10:30am
Author Robert Litan, Director of Research for Bloomberg Government and the former vice president for research and policy at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will discuss his recently released book, Better Capitalism: Renewing the Entrepreneurial Strength of the American Economy. more
A Debate: Is the American Economy in Decline?
October 18, 2012 // 3:00pm — 4:30pm
Please join us for a compelling debate that explores these two competing interpretations and examines what the United States needs to do to restore robust economic growth. Robert Atkinson and Ed Luce will debate the affirmative, based on arguments from their books Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage and Time to Start Thinking, arguing the U.S. economy is suffering from underlying structural weaknesses which will continue to comprise America’s economic competitiveness until addressed. Dan Gross will counter that the decline of the American economy has been much exaggerated and that the U.S. economy remains structurally sound and is in fact poised for rapid growth once the financial crisis abates, as he argues in Better, Stronger, Faster: The Myth of American Decline . . . and the Rise of a New Economy.
more
The Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Future of International Trade
August 08, 2012 // 2:00pm — 5:00pm
As the major trade initiative of the Obama Administration, the Trans-Pacific Partnership will broaden trade in the Pacific and may create a template for future, global trade negotiations. more
Understanding and Responding to Attacks on Civil Society: The Roles of Politics and Law
August 14, 2012 // 9:30am — 11:00am
It is crucial for the international community to understand the implications of attacks on civil society for the development of democratic governance in these countries and, more importantly, to identify effective ways to respond to them. more
The Manufacturing Competitiveness Imperative for the United States
July 31, 2012 // 9:00am — 10:30am
Craig Giffi will provide an overview of the current state of manufacturing in the United States and possible future impact of and importance of manufacturing to national prosperity, national security, and the entire innovation system. Giffi will be joined by Nayanee Gupta who will discuss how potential developments in advanced manufacturing could help sharply strengthen the American presence in manufacturing. To make the most of expected advances in manufacturing, the United States will also need to make a major commitment to develop, maintain, and upgrade workforce skills. more
Pages
What would happen if we fall off the 'fiscal cliff'?
Nov 30, 2012Deputy business editor Joe Bel Bruno and economy reporter Don Lee talk with Kent H. Hughes, director of the Program on America and the Global Economy at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars about the looming 'fiscal cliff'.
Making a Success of Every School
Nov 06, 2012The Program on America and the Global Economy along with Paul Vallas, Distinguished Scholar and noted education reformer recently released a publication identifying the main challenges facing U.S. education in the 21st century.
Greece Should Stay with Eurozone
May 17, 2012Exiting the Eurozone will only exacerbate the austerity Greek voters have balked at, says Kent Hughes. Rather than leave, Greek economic and political leadership should seize the opportunity to rebuild a civic culture that will support stable finances and long-term growth.
The End of Austerity Politics in Europe?
May 08, 2012In the wake of this weekend's elections in France, Greece, and other parts of Europe, headlines across the globe suggest that voters have delivered a major anti-austerity message to their governments. Wilson Center expert Kent Hughes provides analysis and perspective on what political change in France and other countries might mean.
Manufacturing Key to America's Future
Aug 29, 2011The key to stimulating economic growth and job creation is to encourage and support manufacturing in the U.S., writes Wilson Center economics expert Kent Hughes in The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Next Generation of Earth System Education
April 22, 2013 // 3:00pm — 5:00pm
On April 22, 2013, a select panel of GeoSTEM Master Teachers discussed how teacher-leaders have come together to put policy into practice. GeoSTEM is an ongoing educational endeavor to engage teachers and students in an innovative study of Planet Earth using state-of-the-art technologies and educational resources.
A Book Launch: Money and Banks in the American Political System
March 14, 2013 // 3:00pm — 4:30pm
With the 2008 financial crisis still sending shockwaves through the US economy, debates over money are embedded in national politics and contemporary conceptions of the American dream. In Money and Banks in the American Political System, Kathryn C. Lavelle explores the complexity of the political institutions that surround finance, and traces the modern instability to the nexus between market innovation and regulation in a society that is wary of allowing business and state to interact and suspicious of any concentrated power in one political or economic institution.
How to Improve Brazil's Industrial Growth and Export Performance
February 12, 2013 // 4:00pm — 5:30pm
On Tuesday February 12, a panel discussed Brazil's industrial outlook and export performance.
Supply & Safety: Monitoring Imported Food
February 05, 2013 // 9:30am — 11:00am
According to the USDA about 15% of all food eaten by Americans is imported. With the growing globalization of our nation's food supply, imported food safety has become a national concern.
Nation Building: The Plan for Public Education in Post-Earthquake Haiti
February 07, 2013 // 3:00pm — 4:30pm
Nearly 50% of the Haitian population is under the age of 18. Thus restructuring Haiti’s education system is the Government of Haiti’s top priority, a challenge complicated by the devastating 2010 earthquake. The Haitian Minister of Education, along with U.S. education reform expert Paul G. Vallas, share the details, the challenges, the progress and the need to realize Haiti’s vision for its future through education.
Economic Statecraft: Developing Partnerships with the Private Sector
December 10, 2012 // 3:00pm — 4:00pm
Distinguished panelists from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development will highlight inter-agency cooperation in implementing Secretary Clinton's Economic Statecraft Agenda. Speakers will outline how their respective agencies are working with the private sector to expand trade and investment, advocate for U.S. business interests and promote a level playing field.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Maintaining Growth in an Uncertain World
November 13, 2012 // 10:30am — 12:00pm
The IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, launched in Tokyo on October 12, 2012, highlights that economic conditions in the region have remained generally robust against the backdrop of a sluggish global economy. The near-term outlook for the region is also broadly positive: growth is projected at 5¼ percent a year through 2012–13. However, there is considerable diversity within the region, with low income countries and oil producers currently faring better than middle income countries closely linked to European markets.
Book Discussion: Waging War on Corruption
December 12, 2012 // 9:00am — 10:30am
“Waging War on Corruption – Inside the Movement Fighting the Abuse of Power “ is about power. It is an insider’s account of extraordinary battles against the abuse of public office by politicians and officials for their personal gain. This is a global journey from the birth of pioneering anti-corruption organization Transparency International in 1993, to the Arab Spring in 2011, as courageous people in scores of countries challenge authority and fight for justice. At stake is nothing less than our global security, the reduction of poverty, the stability of our economic and financial systems, and the cause of freedom and democracy.
Book Launch: Better Capitalism: Renewing the Entrepreneurial Strength of the American Economy
October 24, 2012 // 9:00am — 10:30am
Author Robert Litan, Director of Research for Bloomberg Government and the former vice president for research and policy at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will discuss his recently released book, Better Capitalism: Renewing the Entrepreneurial Strength of the American Economy.
A Debate: Is the American Economy in Decline?
October 18, 2012 // 3:00pm — 4:30pm
Please join us for a compelling debate that explores these two competing interpretations and examines what the United States needs to do to restore robust economic growth. Robert Atkinson and Ed Luce will debate the affirmative, based on arguments from their books Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage and Time to Start Thinking, arguing the U.S. economy is suffering from underlying structural weaknesses which will continue to comprise America’s economic competitiveness until addressed. Dan Gross will counter that the decline of the American economy has been much exaggerated and that the U.S. economy remains structurally sound and is in fact poised for rapid growth once the financial crisis abates, as he argues in Better, Stronger, Faster: The Myth of American Decline . . . and the Rise of a New Economy.
Pages
Negotiations for a Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Dec 04, 2012The TPP is a major attempt to update the rules governing international trade to meet new challenges. In this paper, Wilson Center Senior Scholar William Krist puts the TPP negotiations in a historic context, assesses the current state of the negotiations, examines a number of key issues involved and explores the implication of new members joining the negotiations.
Manufacturing Matters
Nov 28, 2012Manufacturing plays a key role in the U.S. economy and will continue to do so. Looking ahead, the United States needs a manufacturing strategy that can support the emergence of advanced manufacturing processes that, in conjunction with low-cost energy, can revitalize the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Strengthening America: Inventing the Future
Nov 28, 2012The U.S. innovation system has enormous strengths, including public and private support for research and development, the world’s best university system, and an entrepreneurial risk-taking culture. But those elements of the system now face
several domestic and international challenges. The United States will need to maintain support for research and development (R&D), improve its education system, and learn from best practices around the world if it is to compete in the 21st century.
Making a Success of Every School: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century
Nov 06, 2012The Program on America and the Global Economy along with Paul Vallas, Distinguished Scholar and noted education reformer recently released a publication identifying the main challenges facing U.S. education in the 21st century.
Commentary: Trade and the Environment After Seattle
Jul 07, 2011ECSP draws upon Wilson Center speakers and fellows, past and present, to comment on trade and the environment in the wake of Seattle.
Brazilian Congressional Study Mission on Innovation
Apr 16, 2011In the First Brazilian Congressional Study Mission on Innovation, a group of Brazilian congressman and senators visited the Wilson Center, State Department, and MIT to discuss innovation policies in the United States.
From the Classroom to Washington: Einsteins on Education Reform
Sep 07, 2010On June 28-29, 2010, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars hosted the 20th Anniversary Summit of the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program. The fellows offer a unique perspective on U.S. schools and educational policy making; they have been chosen by the Department of Energy to spend a fellowship year, or two, in congressional or executive offices based on their excellence in teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in K-12 schools. This report highlights the outcomes of the summit and focuses on key issues in STEM education.
Biofuels: Food, Fuel, and the Future?
Jul 09, 2010The Program on America and the Global Economy (PAGE) and its Global Energy Initiative together with the Brazil Institute, have held a series of conferences that have focused in whole or in part on various developments in the field of biofuels. In the July 23, 2010 conference, PAGE turned to two scholars, C. Ford Runge and Robbin S. Johnson, both with ties to the University of Minnesota, to provide the current state of play in the development of biofuels, particularly in the United States. A second panel moderated by the Brazil Institute's Paulo Sotero focused on biofuels in an international context.
Stakeholders in Student Success: Public-Private Partnerships Strengthening K-12 Education
Dec 07, 2008Published in December 2008, this report describes some of the most innovative educational programs in the country, which have succeeded in raising student performance and teacher preparedness. As a particular focus, it highlights those programs that have been effective in motivating minority and female students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It also presents the perspectives of key leaders in education, including former Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Congressman Brian Baird, and a group of distinguished classroom teachers.The STAGE Program's focus on education and the completion of this report were made possible through a generous grant from the Petrie Foundation.
Building the Next American Century: The Past and Future of Economic Competitiveness
May 01, 2005Collaboration between the public and private sectors helped the U.S. economy recover from its last period of economic malaise, and similar collaboration is needed today, according to a key participant in the 1980s–1990s competitiveness movement. In Building the Next American Century, Kent H. Hughes describes that movement, beginning with the conditions that stimulated it: stagflation in the early 1970s, declines in manufactured exports, and challenges from German and Japanese manufacturers.
Pages
Economics Roundtable & Lebanon and the Arab Spring
Dec 05, 2012 to Dec 12, 2012
Don Lee, economics reporter for the LA Times, Don Wolfensberger, Wilson Center Senior Scholar, and Kent Hughes, Director of PAGE program at the Wilson Center, discuss the fiscal cliff in our "economics roundtable." Fuad Siniora, former prime minister of Lebanon, provides context on the Arab Spring from the perspective of that nation.
Uprising: The Politics of Protest
Mar 05, 2012 to Mar 11, 2012
John Nichols, The Nation's Washington correspondent and the Associate Editor of The Capital Times in Madison, Wisconsin; Kent Hughes, director of the Wilson Center’s Program on America and the Global Economy
Congress, The IMF, The World Bank, and the Global Economic Crisis
Nov 16, 2011 to Nov 21, 2011
Kathryn Lavelle, the Ellen and Dixon Long Associate Professor of World Affairs at Case Western Reserve University; Kent Hughes, director of the Wilson Center’s Program on America and the Global Economy
Cut or Spend: What's the Long Term Solution to America's Budget Challenge?
Aug 14, 2011 to Aug 20, 2011
John Milewski is joined by Kathryn Lavelle and Kent Hughes to discuss the long term implications of the recent budget and debt debate in Washington.
Cut or Spend: What's the Long Term Solution to America's Budget Challenge?
May 29, 2011 to Jun 04, 2011
Kathryn Lavelle and Kent Hughes discuss the current and long term implications of the ongoing budget and debt debate in Washington.
The Jobless Recovery
Dec 21, 2009 to Dec 27, 2009
Amy Wilkinson, senior fellow at the Harvard university center for business and government and a public policy scholar at the Wilson Center. Kent Hughes , director of the Wilson Center's program on America and the global economy and the Wilson Center On the Hill program.
Building the Next American Century
Oct 26, 2009 to Nov 01, 2009
Kent Hughes, Director, Science, Technology, America, and the Global Economy at the Woodrow Wilson Center
Building the Next American Century
Sep 12, 2005 to Sep 18, 2005
Kent Hughes, Director, Science, Technology, America, and the Global Economy at the Woodrow Wilson Center
Planning for Prosperity
Nov 01, 1999 to Nov 07, 1999
Kent Hughes is former Associate Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce, and a current Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center.