A Conversation with Mayor Michael Bloomberg

The Paulson Institute hosted Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City as part of its “Conversations” series at the University of Chicago. Through the series, the Institute hosts distinguished policymakers and thinkers at the university’s Hyde Park campus for wide-ranging discussions of pressing economic and environmental challenges. Institute chairman Hank Paulson moderated a discussion with Bloomberg of urban policy in contemporary America, broader economic and social challenges facing the United States, and “lessons learned” from Bloomberg’s unique career that has spanned business, public service, philanthropy, and conservation. Reelected to his third term in 2009, Bloomberg has been a path-breaking entrepreneur and innovative policymaker, widely regarded as a pace-setter among America’s big city mayors. Bloomberg discussed economic and environmental issues, crime and public health, the challenges of building consensus and managing in the pubic and private sectors, and some of the unique challenges facing American and global cities today. In 2008, more than half of the world’s population lived in cities. Assuring sustainable urbanization is a major programmatic focus of the Paulson Institute.