Events
New Insights Lecture

This lecture series introduces 'new insights'
on contemporary issues as well as presents the latest thinking
and developments in the world of politics, economics, social
policy and management. Speakers at the New Insights Lecture
include international experts from CGL's Distinguished
Visitors Programme.
2008 Lectures
Social Marketing—Influencing and Sustaining Social Change
Dr Ned Roberto
15 October 2008
Behavioural changes amongst the public are often difficult to engineer. They are even more difficult when the benefit to society-at-large outweighs the net benefits to the individual, for example, when it involves issues of public health, environmental protection or public safety. Governments and other social change agents have to grapple with competing behaviours, attitudes, values and social norms as they strive to achieve their goal of influencing behaviour, for the overall benefit of the community. How can policymakers apply Social Marketing principles and techniques in public policy, to nudge citizens towards desired behavioural goals and bring about life-improving changes? See Dr Ned Roberto’s lecture slides
Why the Welfare
State Looks like a Free Lunch
Professor Peter H. Lindert
6 May 2008
It is well known among economists and policy makers that high
taxes and large social transfers reduce economic growth and
productivity—well known, but not always supported by
evidence and history. In this lecture, Professor Peter H.
Lindert, author of the ground-breaking 2004 book on social
spending, Growing Public: Social Spending and Economic
Growth since the Eighteenth Century, argued that
contrary to popular belief, high tax-based spending on social
transfers do not always impose a clear cost on economic performance
in terms of GDP. See Lecture Notes
The
Economics of Climate Change, a Global Deal and the Role of
Asia
(in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment and
Water Resources)
Lord
Nicholas Stern
10 April 2008
The last few years have seen a deepening understanding of
climate change, particularly the risks the world faces from
business-as-usual and of the scale of the response required
in terms of reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. We can
also understand the economic and technological instruments
that can support and drive these reductions. Businesses too
are becoming clear about what is necessary. This understanding
is increasingly reflected in public demand for responsible
action and in country after country this is being demonstrated
in the political and electoral processes. It is public demand
which will promote and sustain action at the individual, community,
national and international levels.
The problem of climate change involves a fundamental failure
of markets: those who damage others by emitting greenhouse
gases generally do not pay. Climate change is a result of
the greatest market failure the world has seen. Rich countries
must lead the way in taking action to overcome this market
failure. That means adopting ambitious emissions reduction
targets; encouraging effective market mechanisms; supporting
programmes to combat deforestation; promoting rapid technological
progress to mitigate the effects of climate change; and honouring
their aid commitments to the developing world. See Lecture Notes
Climate Change:
What does it mean for Public Policy?
Mr Peter Schwartz
11 January 2008
Mr Peter Schwartz spoke about the wider implications of
climate change for policymakers, how the science of climate
change could reflect on geopolitical, economic, technological
and social impacts and how the growing competition for energy
resources played out against a backdrop of rising calls for
restrictions on green-house gas emissions. Mr Schwartz also
shared his insights on new policy trade-offs and dilemmas,
possible technological solutions, and how governments should
prepare societies for the hard choices they may be confronted
with.
2007 Lectures
Welfare
Reform in America: Successes and Limitations
Professor Lawrence M.
Mead
22 June 2007, 9.30 am
Professor Lawrence M. Mead is Professor of Politics at
New York University, and specifically, a scholar of the politics
and implementation of welfare reform in United States. Professor
Mead visited Singapore from 21 to 22 Jun as CGL's Distinguished
Visitor and delivered a New Insights Lecture on the experience
of workfare in America. See
Lecture Notes
China's
Rise and its Consequences for East Asia and the United States
Professor David M. Lampton
24 May 2007, 3.30 pm
Professor David M. Lampton is George and Sadie Hyman Professor
of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International
Studies, and Director of Chinese Studies at The Nixon Center.
He was in Singapore from 24 to 30 May as CGL's Distinguished
Visitor, during which he delivered this New Insights Lecture.
Professor Lampton also held other closed-door events, including
a full day practitioner's workshop for senior officials, and
roundtable discussions with various government agencies. See
Lecture Notes
Global
Shifts and Megatrends in the Next 25 Years
Mr Peter Schwartz
17 May 2007, 3.30 pm
Peter Schwartz is cofounder and chairman of Global Business
Network, a Monitor Group company, and a partner of the Monitor
Group, a family of professional services firms devoted to
enhancing client competitiveness. An internationally renowned
futurist and business strategist, Schwartz specializes in
scenario planning, working with corporations, governments,
and institutions to create alternative perspectives of the
future and develop robust strategies for a changing and uncertain
world. See
Lecture Notes
2006 Lectures
Professor John L. Esposito
New Insights Lecture: Islam and the West on 19 October
2006
Professor John L. Esposito is Professor of Religion and International
Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. He
is also Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal
Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding in the Walsh School
of Foreign Service. See
Ethos interview with Professor Esposito.
Mr Martin Wolf
New Insights Lecture: Global Imbalance - Why They Matter
on 14 September 2006
Mr Martin Wolf is Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator
at The Financial Times, London. He was awarded the CBE (Commander
of the British Empire) in 2000 for services to financial journalism
- see Ethos
interview on The Globalisation Game with Mr Wolf.
Mr Ronald A. Heifetz
New Insights Lecture: Leading People in Times of Change
on 13 July 2006
Mr Ronald A. Heifetz is the King Hussein bin Talal Lecturer
in Public Leadership, John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University.
Dr Joseph Chamie
New Insights Lecture: Population, Politics and Policy
on 15 May 2006
Dr Joseph Chamie was with the United Nation Secretariat for
28 years and served as Director of the Population Division
for more than a decade - see Ethos
interview on Population and Policy with Dr Chamie
New
Insights Lecture: Undoing Harms - The Challenge of Effective
Risk Control on 19 January 2006
Professor Malcom K. Sparrow
Professor Malcolm K. Sparrow is Professor of the Practice
of Public Management at the John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University. Also see Ethos
interview on Developing the Craft of Regulation
with Professor Sparrow.
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