Podcast Summary: The White House and the World 2016

Podcast: The CGD Podcast
Host: Rajesh Merchandani (A), Center for Global Development
Guest: Ben Leo (B), Senior Fellow at CGD, Co-Editor of the White House and the World Project
Date: July 19, 2015
Theme: Practical, bipartisan policy proposals for the next US administration to enhance global development and improve US prosperity

Episode Overview

This episode marks the launch of CGD’s influential project, The White House and the World, a collection of actionable policy proposals targeting the upcoming US Administration. The conversation unpacks the shifting realities of global development and outlines how American policy can and must adapt, not only for the good of the world but for the country’s own future prosperity and security.

Key Topics and Insights

1. Purpose and Scope of "The White House and the World" (00:42–02:37)

• Comprehensive Approach:
  The project isn’t limited to foreign aid; it also encompasses trade, migration, investment, energy, health, finance, and climate policy.
• Practical, Bipartisan Solutions:
  Proposals are designed to appeal to both sides of the political aisle and are crafted for feasible implementation.
• Quote:

  “Not just foreign aid, but things like migration, investment, a range of different issues … these are things that should garner bipartisan support and can be done.” (B, 00:48)

2. Current and Next Administration Relevance (01:29–02:13)

• Proposals are relevant for both the tail end of Obama’s term and the incoming administration.
• Transition Opportunity:
  New administrations bring appetite for legacy-building and new thinking on development.
• Quote:

  “The greatest opportunity for impact and implementation will lie with the next administration … they will want to build their own legacy on development issues...” (B, 01:44)

3. Highlighted Policy Areas (02:37–09:09)

a. Trade Policy for Development (02:37–03:04)

• Emphasis on using trade to benefit the poorest countries without extra cost to US taxpayers.
• Quote:

  “Almost all of the proposals entail no incremental cost to US taxpayers.” (B, 03:04)

b. Migration as a Development Lever (03:04–05:47)

• Big Idea: Migration, especially low-skill migration, can vastly outpace the impact of foreign aid through remittances.
• Proposal: US-Mexico bilateral labor agreement for low-skill workers.
• Migration benefits both sending (Mexico) and receiving (US) countries, but remains politically sensitive.
• Quote:

  “Migration can have an outsized impact on development outcomes.” (B, 03:19)
  “Remittances dwarf the amounts spent on foreign aid … multiples and multiples larger.” (B, 03:58)

• Memorable Moment:

  “By putting forward a practical idea, we might be able to move it forward and actually have a very significant win win impact.” (B, 05:33)

c. Energy Access—Power Africa (06:40–08:29)

• Supports expanding and strengthening the Power Africa Initiative.
• Calls for long-term authorizations and reforms to match project timelines (energy infrastructure requires years to build).
• Quote:

  “It’s a new way of using foreign assistance to crowd in private investment... So his ideas for a long term authorization for Power Africa, but also a series of reforms and new authorities that will make US tools much more effective going forward.” (B, 07:07)

d. Broader Scope and Structure (08:29–09:09)

• Proposals are grouped under three themes:
  • Harnessing America’s strengths in technology, entrepreneurship, markets.
  • Addressing global and regional challenges (trade, energy, health, climate).
  • Ensuring US development tools are fit for the 21st century.
• Quote:

  “Are they structured in the most effective and efficient way and are they focused on the most important outcome indicators?” (B, 09:00)

4. Changing Realities of Development and Need for Policy Reform (10:05–12:24)

• Shift in Global Development:
  • US is now one player among many in a multipolar world.
  • Foreign aid is now dwarfed by remittances and private investment.
  • There are fewer low-income countries but persistent needs in some pockets.
• US policy has not kept up and needs to be re-thought, reformed, and modernized.
• Quote:

  “The US is no longer the biggest boy on the block ... remittances dwarf foreign aid. Private investment dwarfs foreign aid. So the US approach to development issues needs to reflect both the multipolar world as well as the evolution of the sources of development finance...” (B, 10:27)

Closing and Hopes for Impact (12:24–13:31)

• Engagement: CGD hopes policy campaigns, candidates, and administrators will study these proposals and—ideally—make them reality.
• Quote:

  “We want to make sure that we are planting seeds on both sides of the different campaigns and building relationships and contributing intellectually to whoever comes next.” (B, 12:57)

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• “It is a practical set of policy proposals that the next administration can pursue as a way of promoting prosperity abroad and also making Americans safer and more prosperous here at home.” (B, 00:48)
• “Almost all of the proposals entail no incremental cost to US taxpayers.” (B, 03:04)
• “Remittances dwarf the amounts spent on foreign aid … multiples and multiples larger.” (B, 03:58)
• “We have fallen behind the curve and it requires a very aggressive and thoughtful approach to reforming the way that we pursue development.” (B, 11:23)
• “Ideally, we’d love to have the next US President implement the entire package, but there will be certain issues that will be more appealing than others.” (B, 12:41)

Key Timestamps

• 00:42–02:37: Overview and intention behind White House and the World
• 03:00–05:47: Migration and US-Mexico labor agreement proposal
• 06:40–08:29: Energy access and Power Africa Initiative
• 08:29–09:09: Thematic breakdown of proposal categories
• 10:05–12:24: The necessity for US policy to adapt to changed development realities
• 12:35–13:31: Hopes for engagement and implementation

Episode Tone

• Practical, hopeful, and forward-looking
• Bipartisan and inclusive
• Both realistic about political and logistical challenges, and ambitious about achievable progress

For more details, visit CGD’s website: cgdev.org.