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Inflation Nation and the 2024 Elections

Is it time for the Federal Reserve to start cutting rates? How important is the economy in a presidential election year? A panel of experts examines the uncertainty over navigating monetary policy after the Fed hiked its benchmark interest rate to the highest level in more than two decades and how the state of the economy will affect decisions at the ballot box. The panel will share their perspectives on the economy's – and the central bank's – trajectory, the nation's outlook, and whether small economic shifts could influence upcoming elections. 

About the Panel

Jim Granato, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston

Jim Granato is the dean and a professor at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. His teaching and research interests are political economy, policy analysis, econometrics and statistical modeling. Granato's professional experience includes serving as the political science program director and visiting scientist at the National Science Foundation. Granato is the author of numerous publications in academic journals and co-authored "The Role of Policymakers in Business Cycle Fluctuations" and "The Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models in Political Science."

Mark P. Jones, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University

Mark P. Jones is a fellow in political science at the Baker Institute, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies and a professor in the political science department at Rice University. Jones is also a senior research fellow at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. His research focuses on the effect of electoral laws and other political institutions on governance, representation and voting. 

Sunny Wong, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston

Sunny Wong is the associate dean for graduate studies and a professor at the Hobby School of Public Affairs. His teaching and research interests include monetary policy, the political economy, time series analysis and international trade. Wong has published research articles in numerous academic journals and co-authored "The Role of Policymakers in Business Cycle Fluctuations" and "The Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models in Political Science."

About the Moderator 

Chase Untermeyer, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston

Chase Untermeyer is a professor of practice at the Hobby School of Public Affairs and a former U.S. Ambassador to Qatar. Untermeyer held positions at all levels of government for more than 40 years. Untermeyer's lessons in leadership have been captured in his diary-based books documenting his years in public service alongside presidents and naval commanders.upcoming elections. 

 


The Hobby Hour is an interactive discussion about public policy and politics hosted by the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston. Watch the show on the Hobby School's YouTube, Facebook and Twitter channels.