Center Director Andrew Samwick leads RLF session on "The Leadership Implications of the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis"

Andrew Samwick, Director of the Rockefeller Center and the Sandra L. and Arthur L. Irving Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College, led the session last week titled "The Leadership Implications of the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis."

He opened the session by asking Fellows to point out where opportunities to demonstrate effective or ineffective leadership existed in the years leading up to the crisis.  Examining the actions of individuals such as Ben Bernanke and the decisions of institutions such as the SEC, Professor Samwick highlighted specific instances that shaped the future course of events.  He left Fellows with the advice that leaders in any situation should be consistent in their decision making and always cultivate a sense of fairness in their treatment of other actors. 

Fellows then discussed where the next crises will be and ideas ranged from public education to infrastructure to oil.  Professor Samwick closed the session by answering questions on everything from the specifics of the economic crises to more general theories of leadership.

-- Karen Doster '11