Free market capitalism is the engine of social mobility — the highway leading to economic growth and the American Dream. The Bush Institute researches and develops initiatives and economic analysis to spur accelerated, sustainable economic growth for the U.S. economy.

The Challenges We Face

• In the current economic crisis, free market principles are under attack.
• In these economic times, unemployment in the United States is at a high level.
• Several states and municipalities face the financial crisis of bankruptcy or significant budget shortfalls.
• Economic problems include underfunded retirement and health care liabilities that total $70–$100 trillion.

4% Project: Driving Economic Growth

The 4% Project: Driving Economic Growth conference launched the 4% Project, which will increase awareness of current economic events including public policies and private business strategies that increase opportunity and prosperity for Americans. The conference set for the United States a goal of growth and development to include long-term, sustainable, real GDP growth of 4 percent or more. While economic recovery of 4 percent annualized GDP growth might seem a stretch for the U.S. economy, it can be achieved. The United States grew at that rate during much of the 19th century, and the rate during the second half of the 20th century was only slightly lower.

With the 4% project, modern information and industrial technologies, as well as deep capital investment in productivity tools across the economy in every industry, the United States can grow much faster than economists currently predict — as long as the best economic policies are in place to address the current economic crisis. What are those policies? Nobel laureates and other leading economists, CEOs and policy experts were invited to participate in discussions April 12-13 to begin the process of policymaking and seeking answers to the question of sustainable economic growth. Click here to read conference highlights.

Domestic Energy And Markets

The Domestic Energy and Markets Initiative will seek to define the path to U.S. energy security and sustainable energy solutions by exploring the opportunities created by technological advances, market changes and other game-changers that will help secure U.S. energy needs for the future. The Institute will focus on both the supply-side and the demand-side of innovation and include energy, and energy resources, as part of the new 4% Project, an initiative dedicated to exploring the mix of public policies and private business practices to drive the U.S. economy toward sustainable growth and sustainable energy solutions.

The first conference conducted for the Domestic Energy and Markets Initiative was held in the fall of 2010. "Natural Gas Nation" addressed the question of what needs to be done to make America's new sources of energy and explosively growing reserves of natural gas a true game-changer – for the environment, for the economy and for national security. For more information and conference highlights, click here.

Goals And Results

The environment conducive to a pro-growth mix of policies and business practices will not develop overnight, and indeed, economic growth and development will be driven from grassroots efforts which have their origins among voters and taxpayers who in turn pressure their elected officials on current economic events. The Bush Institute is uniquely positioned to advance the cause of strong economic growth and economic recovery through our ability to reach a mass audience for increased awareness and education of the origins of American opportunity and economic prosperity: low tax rates on capital and income, a strong currency, and a smaller government footprint in the economy starting with lowered spending levels.

Key to our success will be publishing economic news and economic issues across all online and print media, major conferences in Dallas, including an annual Conference on Economic Growth, and smaller events around the U.S. We will track and measure the success of our publications and events on the economy of the United States via readership, viewership and attendance metrics.

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