Lawrence H. Summers

Amber Waves of Greatness: Promoting Prosperity in Middle America

Gillian Tett, Steve Bullock, Steven Rattner, Rick Snyder, Lawrence H. Summers, Devin Wenig, Larry Summers

Leading policymakers and business executives analyze the stark divergence in U.S. economic growth, contrasting stagnant Great Lakes manufacturing wages with rapid innovation in Michigan and Montana through targeted vocational programs and digital infrastructure investment. Speakers including Larry Summers, Governor Rick Snyder, and Governor Steve Bullock debate the root causes of labor shortages, highlighting the critical need to replace four-year degree mandates with competency-based trade training and to implement federal place-based policies that address regional inequality. The discussion culminates in a call for expanded public-private collaboration to modernize infrastructure, correct skills gaps in the sharing economy, and foster global competitiveness without relying on traditional protectionist measures.