Council on Competitiveness Launches Economic Advisory Committee, Prepares for 2012 Competitiveness Index

WASHINGTON, DC –

The Council on Competitiveness launched the Economic Advisory Committee today in Washington D.C. to help identify areas for American economic growth, and to redefine and reshape the Council’s flagship publication, the Competitiveness Index. The Committee is being chaired by Dr. Gene Huang, Chief Economist and Vice President at FedEx, and is comprised of leading economists across industry, academia, labor and non-governmental organizations.

The Economic Advisory Committee’s inaugural meeting focused on whether current metrics for global competitiveness accurately reflect the most relevant and meaningful data, and how the Competitiveness Index can locate opportunities to boost U.S. growth and productivity.

“By convening a diverse and prestigious set of economists, we have the ability to explore the fundamentals of a competitive economy more thoroughly than it has ever been done before,” said Council President & CEO Deborah Wince-Smith. “The American economy is at true inflection point, and it is critical that we understand the drivers of national competitiveness to identify a path toward lasting prosperity.”  

The Council’s most recent Index was published in 2007, and recognized elevated healthcare costs and exploding debt as major risks to the U.S. economy. The next Competitiveness Index is scheduled to be published in June 2012.

See the meeting's agenda and participants.