Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium | Council on Foreign Relations

American Views on Economic Leadership

In April 2024, CFR launched RealEcon: Reimagining American Economic Leadership Initiative with the goal of rebuilding a durable consensus on the U.S. role in the international economy. As a first step, the RealEcon team toured the country to ask Americans their views on trade, investment, foreign aid, China, and other economic issues. They visited nine states and spoke with over 400 people, including local elected officials, business leaders, farmers, workers, students, and journalists. This event will feature a fireside chat with former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu and a panel discussion with senior experts and interlocutors of key themes and policy takeaways from the tour. The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium was established in 2014 and was made possible through a generous endowment gift from Robert B. Menschel while a senior director at Goldman Sachs. Since Menschel’s death in 2022, the symposium continues in his honor and memory.

Virtual Event with Donald Evans, Karla Morales, Catherine A. Novelli, Chris Sununu, Greg Ip and Heather E. Long March 25, 2025 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Economics

Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium: Economic Decision-Making During Times of Uncertainty

Inflation, the possibility of a recession, concerns in the banking industry, and implications of geopolitical conflicts, among other factors, contribute to a growing sense of economic insecurity. The 2023 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium discusses economic decision-making and how individuals, corporations, and governments weigh risks during times of economic instability. A full symposium agenda is available here. KEYNOTE SPEAKER Robert E. Rubin, Author, The Yellow Pad: Making Better Decisions in an Uncertain World; Chairman Emeritus, Council on Foreign Relations; Former U.S. Treasury Secretary (1995–99) The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium, presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, generates critical thinking about the consequences of herd mentality behavior in global economics. This symposium was established in 2014 and was made possible through a generous endowment gift from Robert B. Menschel while a senior director at Goldman Sachs. Since Menschel’s death in 2022, the symposium continues in his honor and memory.

Virtual Event with Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, Michaela Pagel, Robert E. Rubin, Jason Schloetzer, Bianna Golodryga and Ali Velshi June 6, 2023 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

United States

Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

The 2022 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium discusses the current state of inflation in the United States through the lens of behavioral economics, including how public perceptions might contribute to rising inflation rates. The full agenda is available here. The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium, presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, generates critical thinking about the consequences of herd mentality behavior in global economics. This symposium was established in 2014 and was made possible through a generous endowment gift from Robert B. Menschel while a senior director at Goldman Sachs. Since Menschel’s death earlier this year, the symposium continues in his honor and memory.

Virtual Event with Carola Binder, Carola Binder, Willem H. Buiter, Willem H. Buiter, Meir Statman, Meir Statman, Michael Weber, Michael Weber, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Gillian Tett and Gillian Tett June 14, 2022 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Economics

Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

The 2021 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium discusses how behavioral economics can help explain decision-making during a pandemic. The full agenda is available here. The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium, presented by the Maurice R. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, is made possible through the generous support of Robert B. Menschel.

Virtual Event with Ravi Dhar, Wendy Edelberg, Fiona Greig, Richard H. Thaler, Terry L. Babcock-Lumish and Eduardo Porter March 15, 2021 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Economics

Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

This symposium on behavioral economics examined social and political participation, including why individuals choose to join a movement or party, the influence of partisanship on decision-making, and…

Event with Leyla Karakas, Yanna Krupnikov, Josh Martin, Cass R. Sunstein, John C. Bussey and Zachary Karabell February 20, 2020 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Economics

A Conversation With Abhijit Banerjee

Although the global rate of extreme poverty is at a historic low, the pace of poverty reduction is slowing and the World Bank estimates that more than 700 million people still live on less than $1.90 a day.

Event with Abhijit Banerjee and Isobel Coleman March 6, 2019 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Economics

Behavioral Economics in the Age of Big Data

The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium generates critical thinking about the consequences of herd mentality behavior in global economics.

Event with Hersh Shefrin, Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, Dan Wagner and Leigh Gallagher February 7, 2018 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Economics

A Conversation With Google's Hal Varian

The Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium generates critical thinking about the consequences of herd mentality behavior in global economics.

Event with Hal R. Varian and Peter R. Orszag February 7, 2018 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Global

Behavioral Insights Into Policymaking

Experts discuss behavioral insights into policymaking.

Event with Jeffrey Liebman, Maya Shankar and Zachary Karabell April 18, 2017 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Global

A Conversation With Daniel Kahneman

Daniel Kahneman discusses insights from behavioral economics.

Event with Daniel Kahneman and Alan S. Murray April 18, 2017 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Global

Behavioral Finance and Economic Policymaking

Experts discuss behavioral finance and economic policymaking.

Event with Paul A. Volcker, Ernesto Ponce de León Zedillo, Willem H. Buiter and Gillian Tett March 4, 2016 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium

Global

A Conversation With Robert J. Shiller

Robert J. Shiller discusses the importance of economic irrationality, crowd behavior, and other elements of behavioral finance in understanding the global economy and making effective economic policy.

Event with Robert J. Shiller and Peter R. Orszag March 4, 2016 Robert B. Menschel Economics Symposium