A trade war with China. An airstrike on an Iranian general. An impeachment of the U.S. president.
We hear or read the bits of news, but it often leads one to ask: Why is there so much political uncertainty right now? How will that affect our economy?
Simple questions often yield complex answers, but on Jan. 16, Cornell W. Clayton, a distinguished politics professor at Washington State University, plans to offer some answers at the 2020 Economic Forecast Breakfast at the Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. Sixth St.
Every year for the past 34 years, The Columbian has hosted the breakfast as a way to tap into the brains of political- and business-savvy people like Clayton, as well as speakers more focused on economics, including Washington State Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown, Vigor Industrial Board Vice Chairman and Founding CEO Frank Foti, and Curtis Robinhold, executive director of the Port of Portland.
IF YOU GO
What: 2020 Economic Forecast Breakfast
When: 6:30 a.m. Jan. 16
Where: Hilton Vancouver Washington, 301 W. 6th St., Vancouver
Cost: Tickets are $55 and include a sit-down breakfast; reserve your seat or table (of 10) before Thursday
Information: 360-735-4511 or columbian.com/economicforecast
The panel of speakers, moderated by Jennifer Baker, president of the Columbia River Economic Development Council, is meant to equip local businesspeople with a knowledge of what to expect from the sea of an economy that floats their businesses.
“Given how volatile and unpredictable our politics are, let’s take a step back and get some historical perspective on what seems to be crazy politics right now,” said Clayton, the Thomas S. Foley Distinguished Professor of Government Director.
Clayton, who is the author of seven books and numerous essays, will distill his forecast during his talk, which he said addresses a growing divide in our country that has emerged since the Cold War ended and globalization began.
“The new cleavage is the populous cleavage,” he said. “We have the populists and antiglobalists vs. the establishment politicians.”
With the volatile nature of politics, Clayton said, his speech for Jan. 16 is changing every day.
Scott Bailey, regional economist at the Washington Employment Security Department, will give a talk on the state of the economy. He doesn’t expect a recession in 2020, he said.
“We had a lot of chatter about recession this last year,” he said. “I was pretty consistent in saying no. I would say the same for 2020, barring unforeseen things happening.”
This story was updated to accurately state Frank Foti’s title at Vigor Industrial.
