Jim Clifton
Showing 1–2 of 2 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Entrepreneurship & Essential Ingredients to U.S. Competitive Advantage
Erik Schatzker, Jim Clifton, John Danhakl, Adena Friedman, Julie Sweet
Panelists Julie Sweet, Jim Clifton, and Adina Friedman warn that the United States faces a critical decline in entrepreneurial momentum and GDP per capita, driven by a failing education system, stagnant startup formation, and restrictive immigration policies. While global rivals like China and Sweden outpace American innovation through targeted tax incentives and cultural support, the domestic landscape is suffering from a collapse in IPO activity and a disconnect between intellectual capacity and independent business creation. To counter these trends, experts advocate for structural reforms including expanded apprenticeships, private sector-led reskilling initiatives, and reduced regulatory burdens to restore the U.S. competitive edge.
- Milken Institute1h 4m
What's Happened to the American Dream?
Shaun Robinson, Jim Clifton, Robert H. Dugger, Shirin Laor-Raz Salemnia, Yascha Mounk, Will Packer
This analysis examines the shift from the American Dream as a pursuit of universal material improvement to a zero-sum struggle for positional goods, driven by flat living standards since 1985 and the exclusion of 60% of young adults from the labor market. Key structural barriers including felony records, educational misalignment, and automation threats have reduced intergenerational social mobility to 7.5% and created governance risks by alienating millions of citizens. Proposed solutions focus on early childhood investment, expanding awareness of high-growth tech sectors, and reforming higher education to identify and nurture resilience in high-potential students regardless of background.