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Real Conversations, Real Estate

During a time of great uncertainty and rapid change, connection and information is a more important resource than ever before. Today's issues could be amplified or altered in a matter of days or hours, so it is vital that organizations and thought leaders frequently share knowledge, dispel rumors, and offer insight.

Hosted by Professor and Lusk Center Director Richard K. Green, Lusk Perspectives offers timely analysis and shares accurate data vetted by leading experts on the latest developments and observations concerning policy, real estate, urban economics and more.

Once interviews are conducted, resources and videos will be made available here and on podcast channels as soon as possible.

Latest Perspectives

State and Local Budgets Watch Now

State and Local Budgets

August 25, 2020

Carolyn Coleman Executive Director
Tracy Gordon Senior Fellow
Lois Takahashi Director

Lois Takahashi moderates a discussion on how COVID-19 is impacting state and local budgets with Tracy Gordon and Carolyn Coleman. Gordon outlines the nationwide declines in revenue are dramatic and could take up to 10 years for unemployment to fully recover. Coleman’s focus on the local picture illustrates that across the board, cities of all sizes are coming up against a variety of shortfalls in revenue and a likely reduction in services. Richard Green fields questions alongside Takahashi regarding how online retail is impacting tax revenue, how inequities are increasing during the pandemic, and the opportunities that this massive fiscal and social shakeup may provide.

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Racial Justice and Economics: A Crucial Pairing Watch Now

Racial Justice and Economics: A Crucial Pairing

August 20, 2020

William Spriggs Professor in, Former Chair of the Department of Economics
Dana Goldman Interim Dean, USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and

Introduced by Dana Goldman, William Spriggs illustrates that race and racism have long been intertwined with economics, and uniquely so in the United States. Defining of race in Plessy v. Ferguson, redlining practices, treating race as "exogenous" in economic analysis, and predatory lending all follow a through-line of systemic racism infiltrating (and weakening) the economy. Richard Green follows up with questions regarding Sprigg's open letter to economists posted publicly at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the real consequences of race as a social construct, the case for reparations in economic models, and more.

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ESG Investments and Real Estate Watch Now

ESG Investments and Real Estate

August 12, 2020

Bonnie M. Wongtrakool Global Head of ESG Investments

Bonnie M. Wongtrakool discusses the state and the future of ESG (environmental, social, governance) investments with Richard Green. Wongtrakool delivers relevant definitions of ESG, how ESG factors can determine long-term sustainability and viability of an organization or fund, and what trends are driving ESG growth. Green follows up with questions on what makes green buildings more financially resilient, red flags in organizational governance, and what it will take to truly diversity the finance industry.

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