New York in the World: The Impacts of Globalization on New York

Planet Earth New York Skyline Niagara Falls New York in the World aims to create a data and fact driven foundation for a broad public discussion and sound decision-making in the state and the city about New York’s competitive position in the world, and its ability to sustain and grow the standard and quality of life of its people.

Its relevance and value extend across a large spectrum of key stakeholders: business, labor, government, education, policy institutions and, above all, the general public.

Existing data may illuminate the impact of the global economy on certain issues or sectors in New York’s economy, but they do not necessarily shed light on their interrelatedness. Nor do they attempt to create a fact based, accessible overview of the gains and costs to New York caused by the forces of globalization.

New York in the World is designed to inform the public and political debate over New York’s future in the global economy. The project will lead to findings and recommendations that can help shape and support appropriate actions and policies.

The project is led by The Levin Institute’s president, Garrick Utley:

New York and the United States confront a challenge of epochal dimensions that is changing our world and our lives. It is driven by new technologies and the dynamics of globalization. It has been accelerated by the profound challenge to prevailing economic, social and political orders, and the shifts in wealth, influence and power within and among nations. It has placed new demands on education. Our future in New York and the nation will be determined by our ability to understand and act innovatively and fearlessly upon these historic changes.

It can be argued that no state in the nation has benefited more AND suffered more from the dynamics of the 21st Century global economy than has New York. While New York City and much of its adjacent areas have generally benefited from and kept pace with the changing global economy, other regions in the state have faced serious issues in adapting to the new economic forces in a largely post-industrial age. New York as a whole is therefore a unique location and opportunity to study these issues, engage the public to discuss our options and take the needed steps. We invite you to become informed about New York in the World, and to support this effort. This is about our future in New York as well as the nation. Today, global begins at home.

The project is built on two legs: research and public engagement:

The public engagement includes focus groups and workshops, as well as a series of larger events around the State to help guide the research, gather survey data, and discuss the findings. These Town Hall events will convene local and regional community leaders as well as figures from the business, workforce and higher education sectors. Elected representatives in state government will be invited to participate. These sessions will be used to obtain local and regional perspectives on the key issues which are being researched and analyzed. A vigorous on-line community will also be built to engage and connect stakeholders and interested participants. At the project’s conclusion, The Levin Institute will arrange major conferences in New York City and Albany as part of the dissemination process of the project results.

The Levin Institute is partnering with the Center for an Urban Future on the research component of the project. The Center is an independent think tank that focuses its work on the critical opportunities and challenges facing New York, and engages policymakers with workable solutions, all with the goal of creating a more sustainable, healthy and competitive New York. The Center’s work is fact-driven, non-ideological and accessible to a wide audience. Its studies inform the policy debate, and policy makers often look to it to help them think through major issues and develop innovative solutions. For more information, visit the Center’s website.

The New York in the World project has been made possible through important initial support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York as well as the State University of New York.