Ross DeVol
Showing 1–15 of 16 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 14m
Building Better Cities and Scaling Housing Solutions
Diane Helfrey, Ross DeVol, Mary Mack, Jonathan Rose, Jesse Vaughan
Experts and corporate leaders convened to address a 20-million-unit U.S. housing deficit driven by coastal economic concentration and demographic shifts, highlighting how essential workers like teachers and first responders are increasingly priced out of the market. The dialogue detailed specific interventions, including Landed's equity-sharing model for down payments, Wells Fargo's LIFT program, and Microsoft's $500 million investment, while emphasizing that preserving existing affordable stock and reforming zoning laws are equally critical to expanding supply. Despite strong public support for mixed-income housing, the event concluded that overcoming local NIMBY opposition and aligning fragmented advocacy groups are necessary to unlock the policy consensus required for systemic change.
- Milken Institute59 min
U.S. Overview: Big Markets, Big Politics
Philippa Thomas, Jonathan Blair, Ross DeVol, Tony Fratto, Steve Krouskos, William Lee, Trevor Custle, John Jones
A panel of five experts, including Bill Lee of the Milken Institute and Steve Kruskos of EY, assessed the current U.S. economy with high optimism while highlighting a paradox between strong macroeconomic indicators and low public trust. The discussion covered the structural impacts of a $1.5 trillion tax bill, the risks of reduced regulatory burdens, and shifting investment trends driven by Brexit and tightening U.S.-China trade relations. Despite consensus on robust growth potential, speakers warned of underlying vulnerabilities such as income inequality, a slowdown in new business formation, and potential asset price distortions caused by monetary policy uncertainty.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Business Tax Reform: Hammering Out the Details
Ben White, Chris Campbell, Ross DeVol, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Gene Sperling, Mark Weinberger
The White House and Republican congressional leadership have unified behind a tax reform package leveraging budget reconciliation to pass with a simple majority, though experts warn that claims of self-funding through growth are mathematically inconsistent with current proposals. Key debates center on the inclusion of corporate cuts alongside individual rate reductions, while panelists express skepticism regarding the Border Adjustment Tax's viability and the likelihood that the final legislation will fail deficit neutrality tests under the Byrd Rule. Consequently, the anticipated outcome is a significant short-term stimulus with temporary deficits rather than a permanent, revenue-neutral reform, leaving bipartisan support unlikely without structural adjustments favoring the middle class and infrastructure investment.
- Milken Institute1h 10m
U.S. Overview: Will the Economic Tailwind Continue?
Ross DeVol, John Chen, Francisco González Díaz, Vasant Prabhu, Steven Rattner, Alan Schwartz
Moderated by Ross Duvall, a panel of industry leaders from BlackBerry, Visa, Guggenheim Partners, and other institutions analyzed the disconnect between U.S. consumer confidence and weak corporate investment while debating the strategic necessity of NAFTA renegotiation and tax reform. Participants highlighted that despite robust consumer spending and low unemployment, stagnant productivity and a skills gap limit growth, prompting calls to shift focus toward high-tech innovation rather than manufacturing repatriation. Looking ahead to 2017, the group predicted a likely passage of corporate tax legislation through reconciliation, limited modifications to the Affordable Care Act, and the commencement of NAFTA negotiations that would emphasize technology and intellectual property over traditional trade barriers.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
U.S. Overview: Post-Election America and the World
Ross DeVol, Tony Fratto, Adam Hitchcock, William Lee, Richard Socarides, Ross Duvall, Tony Frada
This panel analysis dissects the 2016 electoral realignment driven by disaffected rural voters in the Upper Midwest and examines the resulting shifts in demographic coalitions and global economic trends. Experts evaluate the new administration's policy priorities, including projected tax reforms, potential deregulation through enforcement discretion, and the strategic use of trade negotiations to reshape global commerce. Furthermore, the discussion highlights critical challenges to long-term growth stemming from workforce constraints, automation, and the potential erosion of Federal Reserve independence under a president who views the central bank as a negotiating chip.
- Milken Institute57 min
2016 CA Summit - Gains and Pains: The Cost of Providing Californians a Living Wage
Ben Bergman, Ross DeVol, Rusty Hicks, Ken Jacobs, Roxana Tynan
California's mandate to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2023 will directly benefit 6.4 million workers, primarily adults and college-educated breadwinners earning below the bottom 30% of the wage distribution. While experts like Russ Duvall warn of regional cost disparities and potential business relocation, economists such as Ken Jacobs argue that increased consumer spending and reduced turnover will balance higher prices to maintain overall employment levels. The event further underscores that wage hikes alone are insufficient for housing affordability, advocating for integrated solutions like expanded Career Technical Education and updated housing policies to address long-term economic inequality.
- Milken Institute1h 16m
U.S. Overview: Will Recovery Prevail?
Ross DeVol, Monty Bennett, Juan Enriquez, Fred Hochberg, Judith McKenna, Bluford Putnam
A panel of economic experts analyzes the mixed signals of U.S. growth in early 2016, where weak Q1 GDP and corporate profit declines were partially offset by a resilient housing sector and significant household savings from lower gasoline prices. While stagnant wage growth and regulatory constraints like Dodd-Frank continue to dampen capital goods orders and business confidence, the consumer remains a bright spot driven by deleveraging and the incoming spending power of Millennials. Long-term prospects rely on innovation to sustain a projected 2% growth cap, with global commodity stabilization and the U.S. role as a swing producer expected to support export-driven gains in the service sector.
- Milken Institute59 min
Universities Step Up Their Role in Regional Economic Development
Ross DeVol, Ronald Daniels, Fred Farina, Bahija Jallal, Deval Patrick, Ross Duvall, Ron Daniels
Panelists identified that successful regional innovation clusters require the geographic contiguity of universities, industry, and capital, as evidenced by Massachusetts' long-standing leadership and the specific geographic fragmentation challenges faced by institutions like Johns Hopkins. To bridge the "valley of death" between basic research and commercialization, experts advocated for sustained federal investment in commercialization follow-ons and state-level strategic funding that prioritizes cross-institutional collaboration over short-term political cycles. These interventions aim to transform cultural barriers within academia while ensuring a robust pipeline of human capital capable of de-risking technologies and fostering sustainable economic growth.
- Milken Institute47 min
The Economic Impact of Chronic Disease
Ross DeVol, Nancy Brown, Neal Kaufman, Kristen Miranda, Hugh Waters, Otis Webb Brawley
The Milken Institute convened health leaders and researchers to address the escalating economic and human toll of chronic diseases, emphasizing that 80% of cardiovascular conditions and rising cancer rates are preventable through lifestyle changes and systemic reform. Speakers highlighted stark disparities linked to education and income while detailing how policy interventions, such as Medicaid expansion and Accountable Care Organizations, can reduce waste and improve early detection. The session concluded with a unified call to shift from fee-for-service models to patient-centric strategies that leverage digital tools and early education to extend healthy life years rather than merely treating illness.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
2015 CA Summit - Fostering Innovation to Improve Health Care
Ross DeVol, Donald Crane, Ed Hernandez, Richard Merkin, Kristen Miranda, Art Torres
Leading health stakeholders convened to address California's critical healthcare challenges, including a bifurcated payment system introduced by the 2015 MACRA law and the accelerating market consolidation among insurers like Blue Shield and Anthem. Panelists highlighted that while innovations such as the Heritage Health Prize and joint data exchanges offer promise, systemic barriers like low Medi-Cal reimbursement rates and a 300% pay disparity between specialists and primary care providers continue to drive costs and exacerbate workforce shortages. The discussion concluded that without shifting from volume-based to value-based models and addressing demographic disparities in Covered California enrollment, unchecked consolidation may force government rate regulation to protect consumers.
- Milken Institute56 min
2014 London Summit - U.S. Overview: Business and Ballots
Alex Witt, Eric Cantor, Ross DeVol, William Kahane, Alan Schwartz, Gene Sperling
Experts convened to analyze the U.S. economy's recovery, with Ross Milken identifying a trajectory toward 3% "escape velocity" growth driven by robust auto sales and small business hiring alongside Jean Soltis's critique of overly tight housing credit standards. While Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is expected to maintain accommodative policies until labor market sub-indicators improve, panelists warned that geopolitical risks and regulatory uncertainty regarding mergers and tax reform continue to stifle corporate investment and equity stability. The discussion further highlighted that resolving housing finance ambiguities could boost GDP, whereas achieving comprehensive immigration or energy infrastructure legislation remains hindered by legislative gridlock despite bipartisan support for incremental reforms.
- Milken Institute47 min
The 2014 Atlanta Summit - - The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease: Preventing the Preventable
Ross DeVol, Margaret Anderson, Steve Bird, David Heber, Ken Thorpe
Milken Institute's Ross Duvall, Safeway's Steve Bird, UCLA's David Heber, and Emory's Ken Thorpe presented a unified analysis revealing that rising chronic disease prevalence, particularly in diabetes and stroke, is the primary driver of escalating healthcare costs despite controlled medical inflation. The panel highlighted successful private-sector interventions, such as Safeway's biometric wellness programs and social network strategies for obesity, which achieved significant cost reductions by targeting visceral fat and behavioral incentives rather than relying solely on traditional medical treatment. To scale these proven models, the speakers urged policymakers to reframe Medicare reform as a proactive health strategy, overcome Congressional Budget Office scoring constraints, and replace fee-for-service payment structures with value-based incentives that prioritize prevention and early disease management.
- Milken Institute49 min
MI Summit 2013 - London: U.S. Overview: Gathering Steam? (updated)
Gregory Cappelli, Ross DeVol, Harold Ford Jr., J. Todd Morley, Eric Spiegel, Philippa Thomas
Facing a potential partial government shutdown and debt ceiling breach by mid-October, U.S. political leaders like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are navigating intense intra-party gridlock driven by primary threats. Concurrently, the economy hovers near 2% growth sustained by Federal Reserve stimulus, though experts warn of a structural skills gap, a housing mini-bubble, and an over-reliance on monetary policy that masks underlying weaknesses. Panelists advocate for urgent structural reforms including corporate tax cuts and immigration changes to resolve regulatory stagnation and stimulate genuine long-term innovation.
- Milken Institute49 min
MI Summit 2013 - London: U.S. Overview: Gathering Steam?
Gregory Cappelli, Ross DeVol, Harold Ford Jr., J. Todd Morley, Eric Spiegel, Philippa Thomas
The panel analyzed a precarious October 1 government shutdown and impending debt ceiling crisis driven by ideological gridlock between Speaker John Cornyn and the Tea Party faction against the White House. While macroeconomic indicators show resilience with GDP growth near 2% and recovering manufacturing, the economy faces severe headwinds including a skills gap affecting 3.5 million jobs, regulatory uncertainty from healthcare legislation, and stalled corporate investment due to political paralysis. Experts concluded that breaking the current economic logjam requires urgent structural reforms, specifically corporate tax reduction and energy pipeline approvals, as the lack of political compromise threatens to derail both fiscal stability and long-term U.S. competitiveness.
- Milken Institute1h 12m
U.S. Overview: First Recovery, Then Takeoff?
Abby Joseph Cohen, Gary Loveman, Raymond McGuire, Jim Moffatt, Maggie Wilderotter, Ross DeVol, Ross Duvall, Abby Cohen
A March 2013 panel of Milken Institute analysts evaluated the U.S. economic recovery, noting a 2.5% Q1 growth rate that masks a sluggish labor market and a divergence where corporations hoard cash for buybacks rather than investing in small businesses or R&D. The discussion highlighted how European recession, regulatory uncertainty, and a global tax code incentivizing overseas profits have suppressed domestic expansion despite strong corporate profits and a housing market turning point. Experts concluded that achieving 4% growth requires resolving political gridlock, reforming the corporate tax system, and implementing structural investments in innovation and broadband to convert current financial slack into sustained job creation.