Policymaking & Academic Freedom in the Digital Age: The Term Paper Heard Round the World

What would you do if you found a glaring mistake in a world-renowned and government-cited economics paper, written by two Harvard scholars ay the top of their field?

Thomas Herndon, 28-year old doctoral student at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst was faced with this very question—and he decided to respond to it head on. The paper in question, “Growth in a Time of Debt,” published in 2010 by Harvard professors Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff, has been widely used and cited around the world by governments and people like Paul Ryan and Tim Geithner to justify economic austerity measures.

After discovering that he was unable to replicate the paper’s findings, Herndon pursued Reinhart and Rogoff, who gave him their original data set and the permission to “publish whatever results” he found—and what he found was about to change not only his life, but also the face of debt policy.

Thomas Herndon joins the Council to discuss his findings, and explain how it is possible for even a 28-year-old “kid” to change policy discussions and decisions during the launch of the Council’s new Ajay Raju Millennial Membership & Program Series.

If you're new to the Council’s public programs or would like to increase your involvement, the Ajay Raju Millennial Membership & Program Series is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals in an engaging public forum for the most critical global issues of the day.

Special limited time offer! Join the Council as a Millennial Member before October 16! Join at $35 to receive one-year Millennial Membership, complimentary admission to the Millennial Series launch; OR Join at $60 to receive one-year Millennial Membership, complimentary admission to the Millennial Series launch AND the post-program "Meet & Greet" with Thomas Herndon (includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and drink ticket)

SCHEDULE

6 p.m. Registration and complimentary wine reception

6:30 p.m. Program

7:45 p.m. Exclusive "Meet & Greet" opportunity with Thomas Herndon at Ladder 15 (includes heavy hors d'oeuvres and drink ticket – see event details for pricing)

More info here.