Health and the Economy: Takeaways from a Conversation with the Surgeon General
Last month, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy joined New York Fed President John Williams for a moderated discussion on the intersection of health and the economy, national efforts to promote a healthy workforce, and lessons learned during the pandemic. Among other things, they discussed the link between broadband access and healthcare and the connection between infrastructure investments and health. As President Williams has noted, the New York Fed’s mission is to make the economy stronger for all, “but we can’t have a healthy economy without a healthy workforce.”
Investing in Rural Prosperity: A Framework for Advancing Economic Resilience and Opportunity
On May 24, the New York Fed, in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, is hosting “Investing in Rural Prosperity,” an event that will explore opportunities to advance shared economic prosperity in rural communities across the U.S. The event will draw from, and build on, the insights in a book by the same name that I co-edited and which was published by the St. Louis Fed in collaboration with the Board of Governors.
Several contributors to the book will speak at next week’s event, and some of their key insights are summarized below.
Q&A with Clara Miller, Featured Speaker at “Money and Mission” Event on May 17
Clara Miller, president emerita of the F.B. Heron Foundation, will be the featured speaker at “Money and Mission: Creating 21st Century Capital Markets for Better Social Outcomes,” an event on May 17 focused on the potential to invest philanthropic dollars in a manner consistent with nonprofits’ missions.
Ahead of the event, we spoke with her about challenges related to the philanthropic model and where she’s seeing improvements. The conversation has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
New York’s Eviction Moratorium Ended. What Comes Next for Renters and Landlords?
New York State’s eviction moratorium, which was enacted as part of the state’s pandemic-relief efforts, expired on Jan. 15, 2022, putting thousands of renters at risk.
Investing in Health: Bringing Together Business and Health Leaders
On January 19, the New York Fed, in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, hosted “Investing in Health,” a virtual event that brought together health and business leaders to examine how the private sector is investing in public health, measuring outcomes, and devising mechanisms to boost private investment in underserved communities.
Fostering Low‑Income Homeownership: Challenges and Opportunities
On November 18, the New York Fed hosted “An Economy That Works for All: Fostering Low-Income Homeownership,” a virtual event that featured the latest Fed research on mortgage forbearance and refinancing. The event also featured two discussions: one on preparing low-income families for home ownership, and another on efforts by banks and financial institutions to address hurdles to first-time homebuying for low-income families.
On‑Time Rental Payments Helping to Pave the Road to Homeownership
In the United States, buying and owning a home is seen as a critical wealth-building tool, particularly for lower-income households and people of color.
Food Insecurity: Stakeholder Perspectives on Scaling Solutions
More than 38 million people in the U.S. were considered food insecure in 2020, relying on food pantries and community-based programs to stave off hunger. Hunger and food insecurity have dire economic consequences. For instance, young children who experience food insecurity tend to be less prepared for school, with lifelong impacts on earnings and health.
Insights from the Experts: Extreme Heat and Air Quality
The New York Fed gathered experts for two recent roundtable discussions to learn about the impact of extreme heat and poor air quality on low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. Here are five takeaways from the discussions:
Financial Innovations Spur Growth in Solar Power
Solar power installations in residential homes have long been a luxury good, with high upfront costs creating an insurmountable hurdle for low-income homeowners, and incentives that leave out renters.