The Freeman Center has sponsored a bi-weekly workshop on global economic and other policy issues since 1991. The Freeman Center sponsors the Global Policy Seminar/Workshop series every other Tuesday from 12:45 to 2:00 pm. All sessions are held in the Stassen Room (Room 170) of the Humphrey Center.
The 2009-2010 workshop series will resume September 15.
April 21, 2009 Professor Steven Block, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
The Political Economy of Agricultural Trade Intervention in Africa
How are demography, democracy and agricultural policies related in Africa? Tufts University Professor Steve Block presents initial answers related to this question based on his current research with Robert Bates of Harvard University. Rural populations in Africa are often targeted for higher taxation and price controls on their agricultural output in order to keep foodstuffs cheap and certain non-agricultural groups better off. Opening up the political process and promoting more competitive elections reduces such distortions significantly and substantially. Listen to learn more about how more open and competitive electoral politics apparently change agricultural policies and privileges in Africa.
April 7, 2009 Professor Myles Shaver, UMN Carlson School of Management
How Exporting Facilitates Capital Investment Research findings across many countries indicate that exporters are ‘stronger’ firms (e.g., more productive) than non-exporters. For strategy scholars and policymakers, this begs the question of whether stronger firms become exporters (i.e., exporting is an outcome), or if exporting strengthens firms. Most firm level research shows that exporting is only an outcome. In this work Professor Shaver adds to a nascent stream of research that shows how exporting affects firms. He provides evidence that exporting can foster capital investments by enabling greater firm self-finance.
Orville L. Freeman served as the 29th governor of Minnesota between January 5, 1955 to January 2, 1961. He went on to serve as United States secretary of agriculture from 1961 to 1969. Orville married Jane C. Shields in 1942 and the couple had two children.
The Freeman Forum is a non-profit organization created by the family, friends, and colleagues of Orville Freeman with the University of Minnesota to honor and carry on the work of former Minnesota Governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman, who died in 2003.
Professor Robert T. Kudrle is the Orville and Jane Freeman Professor of International Trade and Investment Policy and Director, Freeman Center for International Economic Policy.
Areas of expertise: competition policy; tax policy; policy problems of globalization; international economic policy cooperation
Professor Kudrle also is an adjunct faculty member with the University of Minnesota Law School. He studies industrial organization, public policy toward business, and international economic policy. Much of his recent research has examined economic relations among industrial countries. He has served as a consultant and expert witness for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and as a consultant to the Internal Revenue Service, Canadian Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, U.N. Center on Transnational Corporations, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Agency for International Development, and Urban Institute. Kudrle has been vice president of the International Studies Association.
Center Director Robert T. Kudrle