Can Higher Education Foster Economic Growth?

On October 30, 2006, the Chicago Fed hosted a conference, titled "Can Higher Education Foster Economic Growth?," on the role of higher education in promoting economic growth. This was the second conference in a Chicago Fed series exploring higher education's influence in regional economic development. Topics included work force development, technology transfer and the ability of universities to improve technology utilization in existing industries. In particular, the conference focused on the role of colleges and universities in slower growing mature regions such as the Midwest. Speakers included Richard Lester of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Michael Luger of the University of North Carolina, Randy Eberts of the Upjohn Institute, Larry Isaak of the Midwestern Higher Education Compact and Sean Safford of the University of Chicago.