Milken Institute
Showing 1906–1920 of 2096 transcripts.
- 7 min
MI Summit 2013 -London: Welcoming Remarks
Gerald Ronson, Michael Klowden, Mike Nolan
Hosted by Gerald Ronson at London's Heron Tower, the 2013 Milken Institute Summit assembled approximately 1,000 global leaders to address faltering economic recovery through the lens of finance, business, and philanthropy. Under the strategic guidance of CEO Mike Clowden and President Paul Irving, the non-partisan think tank focused on generating concrete policy solutions to tackle employment, environmental sustainability, and medical research. The event emphasized moving beyond theoretical debate to leverage capital markets as a catalyst for solving urgent social challenges while securing strategic partnerships for ongoing institutional operations.
- 8 min
Perspectives on Mexico's Political and Economic Direction
John Feeley, Arturo Sarucan, Duncan Wood, Jorge Suarez-Velez
During a debate on Mexico's trajectory under President Peña Nieto, State Department official John Feeley and Global Solutions representative Arturo Sarucán highlighted the nation's rising status as the thirteenth-largest global economy and a critical trading partner with extensive free trade agreements. While external observers express optimism regarding Mexico's telecommunication and education reforms, both experts acknowledge that persistent structural challenges, specifically endemic corruption and regional inequality, remain significant hurdles. Sarucán further noted that consistent macroeconomic policies and poverty reduction initiatives like Oportunidades have successfully lifted 40 million citizens out of extreme poverty, signaling a shift toward a more stable demographic and economic future despite historical skepticism.
- 1h 15m
Hungry and Obese: Food and America's Well-Being
Michiel Bakker, Laurie David, Robert Egger, Nona Evans, Kelly Chapman Meyer, Lawrence Soler, Jane Wells, Skip Reimer, Michael Gerson, Kelly Meyer, Larry Soler, Carol Kretschman
A diverse panel of industry leaders from organizations including Google, the Whole Kids Foundation, and the Partnership for a Healthier America convened to address the systemic drivers of the American obesity epidemic, which currently affects one in three children and costs the economy approximately $1 trillion annually. Participants detailed strategic solutions ranging from Google's focus on teaching cooking skills and LA Kitchen's employment of marginalized populations to process "ugly" produce, alongside efforts to reshape marketing norms and implement corporate accountability through public-private partnerships. By leveraging demographic shifts among younger generations and the political influence of aging Baby Boomers, these stakeholders aim to transition the cultural narrative from fear-based messaging to sustainable lifestyle changes that integrate healthy food into schools, workplaces, and underserved communities.
- 9 min
Christopher Schroeder on Entrepreneurship in the Middle East
Christopher Schroeder, Chris Schroeder
Chris Schroeder, author of *Startup Rising*, challenges the perception of the Middle East as a monolithic risk by highlighting a demographic revolution where 11 nations now produce more female university graduates than male, driving a surge in smartphone adoption and digital literacy. Major tech corporations like Google and Microsoft are rapidly expanding operations alongside a vibrant grassroots ecosystem, evidenced by young Yemeni women innovating solar solutions via open web resources and the region's mobile provider achieving a $5 billion market cap. This transformation is underpinned by urgent infrastructure demands, including a projected need for one million new homes in Saudi Arabia and a doubling of hospital beds, signaling a robust commercial future that transcends traditional geopolitical narratives.
- 6 min
Najib Ghadbian on Syria
Following years of localized repression against the Damascus Spring and Damasco Declaration movements, the 2011 uprising in Daraa ignited a conflict that ultimately killed over 70,000 people and displaced nearly 4 million Syrians. To address this crisis, a 70-member opposition coalition recognized by 114 nations formed a mini-parliament to plan a transition government while General Salim Idris unified 80% of Free Syrian Army factions under the Supreme Military Council. These coordinated political and military structures now face the challenge of leading a nation where over one million citizens have fled abroad and the humanitarian toll continues to escalate.
- 1h 24m
MI Forum: Modern-Day Magellan: JPL Director Charles Elachi
Dr. Charles Elachi, Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, detailed the successful "Seven Minutes of Terror" landing of the Curiosity rover, which has confirmed the presence of essential chemical elements and ancient flowing water on Mars. The presentation highlighted the mission's scientific outcomes, including the discovery of non-oxidized surface material and the approval of future seismology and sample-return missions, while noting that the rover's nuclear power system is designed to operate for a decade. Elachi also projected that human exploration of Mars could commence within 20 to 25 years, citing technological advancements in fuel production and the ongoing development of the James Webb Space Telescope.
- 29 min
Charles Elachi on Curiosity rover's journey to Mars
The Curiosity rover successfully executed a fully autonomous landing on Mars by surviving a seven-minute descent that reduced its velocity from 13,000 mph while navigating the planet's thin atmosphere without real-time ground control. Engineers overcame the spacecraft's massive 10-fold weight increase compared to previous rovers by deploying a supersonic parachute followed by a novel "Sky Crane" maneuver that lowered the vehicle via cable 30 feet above the surface. This unprecedented feat, achieved by a young team of engineers using simulations based on actual telemetry, delivered the rover to within two kilometers of its target and marked a significant advancement in navigation technology.
- 53 min
Evolving Opportunities in Capital Markets (updated)
Mark Attanasio, Colleen Campbell, Lowell Kraff, Soren Reynertson, Justin Slatky, Cristina Alesci
Panelists including Soren Reinerson, Justin Slacky, and Marc Antonacio debated the existence of a bond market bubble, with dissenting views centering on whether current leverage levels signal an imminent crisis or are merely an artifact of Federal Reserve stimulus. Speakers further analyzed the structural divergence between easily funded large-cap issuers and a middle-market capital vacuum, driven by regulatory pressures on banks and the rising prominence of Business Development Companies. The discussion concluded by identifying key future risks, such as potential interest rate snapbacks, municipal distress in jurisdictions like Detroit, and the pressure on underfunded pensions to accept higher returns through riskier alternative assets.
- 1h 0m
How Improved Health and Longer Lives Drive Global Prosperity (updated)
Thomas Frieden, Jonathan Gluck, Carole Roan Gresenz, Michael Harsh, Peter Margolis, Ceci Connolly, Mike Harsh
Six healthcare experts from institutions including the CDC, PwC, and Heritage Provider Network convened at Milk and Palooza to analyze how innovation drives economic growth while challenging myths about cost containment. The panel highlighted that targeted interventions like immunizations and telehealth generate substantial societal returns, contrasting these successes against a system where $2.8 trillion in annual spending is hindered by fee-for-service models that prioritize volume over outcomes. By advocating for data-driven "healthy defaults" and the industrialization of care, the discussion emphasized that political shifts toward value-based payment and preventive measures are essential to improving productivity and reducing unnecessary expenditures.
- 58 min
Longevity Is Opportunity Riding the Demographic Wave (updated)
Pinchas Cohen, Michael Hodin, Dan Houston, Paul Irving, Jody Holtzman, Hasi Cohen
This event analyzes the critical intersection of rapidly aging demographics, broken retirement financial models, and the widening gap between lifespan and healthspan in the Western world. It highlights how exponential population shifts are driving a trillion-dollar market opportunity centered on Alzheimer's prevention, "encore careers," and workforce retention strategies for adults over 50. By refraging aging as a source of economic growth rather than a burden, the discussion presents nonlinear policy solutions and private sector innovations necessary to sustain global productivity and financial stability.
- 59 min
The Rise and Decline of Nations and Civilizations (updated)
Jared Diamond, Niall Ferguson, James Robinson, William Bennett
Historians Neil Ferguson, Jared Diamond, and James Robinson analyze the non-linear S-curves of civilization collapse through the lenses of environmental strain, health crises, and the critical distinction between inclusive and extractive political institutions. The panel assesses contemporary vulnerabilities in the United States, such as educational deficits and intergenerational debt, while projecting that China faces insurmountable demographic and resource barriers despite its current innovation surge. Divergent views on future stability emerge regarding the European Union and Japan, with experts debating whether historical precedents of institutional evolution can overcome inherent systemic flaws.
- 7 min
Carlos Slim's Economic Advice
The speaker argues that Western economies face a structural crisis driven by demographic shifts and obsolete fiscal policies, necessitating a transition to a "new civilization" model. To address actuarially bankrupt pension systems and chronic deficits, the proposal advocates for privatizing state infrastructure through public-private partnerships and implementing a radical three-day, 11-hour workweek. This reform aims to expand labor participation, stimulate growth in service sectors, and ensure a sustainable transition where assets eventually revert to public ownership.
- 51 min
Dinner Program - To Infinity and Beyond: Jeff Skoll Talks with Elon and Kimbal Musk (updated)
Jeff Skoll, Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk, Paul
At a panel introduced by Jeff Skoll, brothers Elon and Kimbal Musk detailed their divergent yet complementary ventures, ranging from early startups like Zip2 and PayPal to Elon's engineering firms SpaceX and Tesla and Kimbal's culinary and nonprofit initiatives. The discussion highlighted specific milestones such as the sale of PayPal to eBay for $1.5 billion, Tesla's launch of the award-winning Model S, and The Kitchen Community's measurable impact on childhood nutrition and school test scores. Both founders reflected on their formative years in South Africa and Silicon Valley, emphasizing a shared philosophy that combines technological innovation with social responsibility through scalable, market-based solutions.
- 57 min
In Tech We Trust? A Debate with Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen (updated)
Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, Martin Giles
Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen debate whether the U.S. economy suffers from a post-1970 technological stagnation that has stunted wage growth or is actually experiencing an acceleration masked by unmet sci-fi expectations and political interference in physical sectors. While Thiel attributes rising inequality and declining living standards to risk aversion, excessive regulation, and a cultural loss of imagination, Andreessen counters that communication breakthroughs are driving efficiency and that physical sector stalls result from massive oil subsidies and restrictive liability frameworks. Both speakers agree that government monopolies and regulations inhibit innovation in energy and transportation, though they differ on the sufficiency of the digital revolution to solve broader economic challenges.
- 1h 2m
The Business of Sports (updated)
Todd Boehly, Jimmy Connors, Wayne Gretzky, Joseph Ravitch, Melinda Witmer, Jim Gray, Joe Ravitch
Guggenheim Partners acquired the Los Angeles Dodgers for $2.1 billion to operate as a global entertainment brand, while Time Warner Cable secured exclusive local media rights through a direct $10 billion agreement that bypasses traditional regional sports networks. Panelists including Todd Boley, Melinda Whitmer, Wayne Gretzky, and Jimmy Connors affirmed that live in-stadium events remain the premium product despite technological advancements in broadcast, citing superior fan engagement and physicality that home viewing cannot replicate. The discussion further highlighted that franchise valuations are driven by real estate potential and media scarcity rather than emotion, with experts predicting the inevitable return of an NFL team to Los Angeles and continued appreciation in major league sports assets.