Urban Comeback: Cities, Small Business, and the Future of Downtowns
Small businesses are the backbone of the economy... but oftentimes get neglected in the overall perspective.
Setup
As U.S. cities adjust to a new post-pandemic normal — characterized by empty office buildings and decreased foot traffic — how are city and federal leaders working with small businesses to reimagine downtowns?
- 2023 Festival
- Economy
Explore More
Economy
Most Americans today would agree that the dream of supporting a family and living a good life on one full time salary is not available to vast numbers of people. Wages have no...
The quest for profits, commitments to social impact, and consumer preference are driving unprecedented change in healthcare as investors pour in money, start-ups and big tech...
Even when the economy is booming and unemployment is low, millions of Americans still face economic hardship. And in the last few years the United States has dealt with supply...
It's been a big year for Patagonia, as it celebrated a 50th anniversary and legally restructured to commit all profits to environmental causes. What can be learned from the co...
How do we sustain growth in a volatile and rapidly changing economy? What’s the best way to foster productivity and fulfillment at work? How will A.I. change the job market? C...
The automotive industry is going through a time of profound transformation, facing internal and external pressure to electrify America’s fleet of personal vehicles. General Mo...
If one dives deeply into the statistics, the American Dream is actually quite alive and well. In his provocative book, The Myth of American Inequality, former U.S. senator Phi...
How can we unlock the power of entrepreneurship to widen access to health care, close gender disparity, and increase prosperity in the global South? Hear from expert voices an...
Alongside climate adaptation, wealth inequality is one of America’s most urgent problems. Learn from a diverse group of innovators about their contributions and commitments to...
In this new Aspen Ideas format, all attendees gather each morning to kick off the day by exploring a current issue of deep complexity. For decades, American policy regardin...
Philosophical and religious teachings regarding wealth can feel both archaic and strangely relevant to our age of economic upheaval. How can we reconcile these ideas about wea...
The American economy motors on, with unemployment near record lows, incomes outpacing rising prices, the debt default averted, the stock market showing surprising strength, an...
Economic uncertainty continues its reign of confusion, vexing financial leaders, regulators, and consumers with worrisome inflation and unpredictable markets. Experts weigh in...
Creating a meaningful life with work that’s fulfilling is not for the faint-hearted in a post-pandemic world. How can we navigate these choppy waters with grace, humor, and wi...
Despite high demand for nutritious foods, many Americans experience gaps, challenges, and barriers when it comes to access and agency over their nutrition. How can the public...
Digital skills open doors to jobs in tech, media, and across all industries. Connecting diverse students and workers with the education and training needed for the 92% of toda...
How are business leaders navigating rising expectations from employees, investors, customers, and communities in a fractured political environment, while progressing on the lo...
Plenty of organizations find success without codifying a specific purpose. Why, then, do more and more CEOs find purpose to be so valuable for leading in today’s increasingly...
The impact of A.I. on the job market is debatable, as it has the potential to both automate tasks and displace workers but also the potential to create new economic opportunit...
In a time of historically low trust in leaders and institutions, how can leaders build trust across lines of difference, depolarize solutions, and not live in fear of cancel c...
