Globalization

News

USC Price Dean Strengthens School's Presence in Asia

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January 16, 2013

Dean Jack Knott in Beijing Jack H. Knott, dean of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, called his recent trip to Asia "one of the most exciting I've ever undertaken." Between Nov. 19 and Dec. 4, he visited China, India and Hong Kong to advance the school's mission of shaping -- and being shaped by -- the world. "These are very important countries to Los Angeles, to USC and to the Price School," he said. "I was really impressed by the range of people that we were able to meet and the relationships that we solidified, as well as initiated."

USC Price Students Present International Findings in France

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November 28, 2012

USC Price School of Public Policy students who took part in the school's China Lab presented their findings to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Port-Cities Programme working group in Paris. The presentation explored the intersection of international trade, public policy and urban planning by comparing the impacts of global goods movement in L.A. with those of China's Zhejiang Province.

USC Price Announces Fundraising Initiative

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November 16, 2012

2012 Price Guardian Awards By all measures, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy experienced a historic year. And on the evening of Nov. 13, the Price School commemorated its accomplishments, honored its supporters, and looked toward the future by announcing the launch of its $150 million fundraising initiative. More than 400 guests attended a festive gala at The Beverly Hills Hotel for the USC Price Guardian Awards & Campaign Celebration. With this initiative, the school aims to become a global center for public policy, planning and development in the urban 21st Century.
Watch the USC Price initiative video >>
View photos from the event >>

USC Center Launches New Migration Tracking Tool

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November 7, 2012

Tomas Rivera Policy Institute Migration Monitor The Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, a university research center housed in the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF), a government-funded social science research institution in Tijuana, collaborated on a project aimed at tracking migration across the U.S.-Mexico border on a comprehensive and timely basis. The Mexican Migration Monitor is a new Web-based report presenting key trends in the ongoing and evolving movement of people between Mexico and the United States.

Schwarzenegger Symposium Convenes Innovators from Politics, Entertainment

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September 24, 2012

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger USC President C. L. Max Nikias and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted the official launching of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy on Sept. 24 with a daylong symposium that brought together prominent leaders in government and entertainment. The event drew nearly 1,000 attendees to USC, along with approximately 30 national and international news media outlets. The Schwarzenegger Institute is housed at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.

USC Schwarzenegger Institute Hosts Inaugural Symposium

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September 18, 2012

The Washington Times featured the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy's inaugural symposium, which will take place September 24. The institute, announced at the USC Price School last month, is a think tank dedicated to finding bipartisan solutions to civic problems. "During my time as governor of California, I learned that the best solutions to the challenges we face come only when all sides are willing to meet in the middle and engage respectfully," former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said. The story noted that participants will include Sen. John McCain, former Govs. Charlie Crist and Bill Richardson, former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and director James Cameron. The event was also covered by Deadline Hollywood.

Blanco Comments on Urbanization's Effect on the Environment

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September 17, 2012

Live Science quoted Price Research Professor Hilda Blanco in a story on the rapid expansion of urban development. "Urbanization has been neglected as a factor in deforestation and degradation and their contribution to carbon emissions. The projections are pretty sobering," she said. Blanco directs the Center for Sustainable Cities at USC, the story noted.

USC Price Students Shape the World during Their Summers Abroad

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September 13, 2012

USC Price International Lab in China Over the summer, dozens of students from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy went the extra mile through internships and international lab experiences across the globe. Price students took part in International labs in Brazil and China; worked with key organizations like the Chinese Academy of Urban Planning and Design, Hong Kong-America Center, Shanghai Center for Sustainability; and interned at the U.S. State Department in Armenia.

USC Price Leads Metro Development Workshop in Brazil

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September 11, 2012

 Panelists, from left, Edson Aparecido, Eric Heikkila, Hasan Ikhrata and Richard Green A contingent of professors, researchers and alumni from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy visited Sao Paulo in August to participate in a two-day workshop on metropolitan development. The group from USC Price shared experiences and research regarding land use, transportation planning, housing, economic development and infrastructure with local academics and officials from the state government. The workshop was an outgrowth of Dean Jack H. Knott's visit to Brazil in December, when he met with Edson Aparecido, secretary of metropolitan development for the State of San Paulo.

USC Co-Hosts Global Health Care Conference in Beijing

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August 30, 2012

Professor Dana Goldman At a time when regulation of health care is increasingly complex and providing health services is increasingly expensive, how can global health be maintained or improved? That was the overriding question at the two-day Global Health Care Regulation and Innovation Conference, held in Beijing. It was jointly hosted by USC's Schaeffer Center and Peking University, with the support of Quintiles. Several faculty from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy participated including Dana Goldman, Darius Lakdawalla and Mike Nichol.

Pachauri Advises Schwarzenegger Institute USC Price

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August 13, 2012

Indi-West featured the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy at the USC Price School, which was announced in early August by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and USC President C. L. Max Nikias. Schwarzenegger will head the institute's board of advisers, which will also include Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, chair of the 2007 Nobel Peace Price-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

NY Times Features Launch of Schwarzenegger Institute at USC Price

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August 11, 2012

The New York Times featured the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, co-founded by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC Price School. The story reported that Schwarzenegger will head the institute's board of advisers, which will include former Mexican President Vicente Fox. The institute will focus on finding bipartisan solutions to civic problems, including education, energy and environmental issues. Schwarzenegger will hold the position of Governor Downey Professor of State and Global Policy at USC, named after the only other immigrant governor of California, John G. Downey. "From the time we immigrated here we always thought about what can we do for the state of California," Schwarzenegger said.

Schwarzenegger Named Governor Downey Professor at USC Price

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August 8, 2012

The New York Observer featured the new USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, co-founded by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC Price School. The story noted that Schwarzenegger will be the inaugural holder of the position of Governor Downey Professor of State and Global Policy at USC.

Schwarzenegger Launches Institute at USC Price

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August 6, 2012

U.S. News & World Report featured the new USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, co-founded by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC Price School. The story reported that the institute is committed to finding bipartisan solutions to government problems. "Knowing USC's reputation as one of the nation's leading policy schools, I could think of no better home for this institute," Schwarzenegger said.

USC Schwarzenegger Institute to Bring Policy Debates to Politics

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August 3, 2012

USA Today covered the new USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, co-founded by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC Price School. Notimex (Mexico) reported that former Mexican President Vicente Fox is a collaborating partner in the institute. The institute was also covered by Los Angeles Magazine , Reuters , American Public Media , American Public Media's "Marketplace," L.A. Observed , NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV, NBC News San Francisco affiliate KNTV-TV, RTT News , the Los Angeles Daily News , and the Guardian Express .

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Founds Think Tank at USC Price

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August 3, 2012

The Washington Post featured the new USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, co-founded by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the USC Price School. Schwarzenegger has committed to funding the institute with a $20 million gift, the story reported. NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV ran an op-ed endorsing the new institute. "Universities all over the world would have happily grabbed him, and USC did L.A. a public service by keeping him at home," wrote author and scholar Joe Matthews. "Schwarzenegger should be able to draw speakers and thinkers and students and money to L.A. that otherwise might not have come." The institute was also covered by a second story in the Washington Post, the Guardian (U.K),  Wiener Zeitung (Austria), Politiken (Denmark), JydskeVestkysten (Denmark) , ANSA (Italy), Lenta (Russia), RT(Russia) , Antara (Indonesia), Slate , Reuters , Asian News International , the San Francisco Chronicle , Voice of America , CBS News Los Angeles affiliate KCBS-TV, two stories in the Sacramento Bee ( second story ), and the Los Angeles Business

Schwarzenegger named Professor at Institute that bears his name

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August 2, 2012

The Chronicle of Higher Education featured the new USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy, co-founded by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with a commitment of $20 million. The Los Angeles Times reported that Schwarzenegger will be named the Governor Downey Professor of State and Global Policy at the institute and will serve as chair of its board. The institute, devoted to finding bipartisan solutions to policy problems, will be housed within the USC Price School and will have the school's Nancy Staudt as academic director and the school's Bonnie Reiss as global director. "We're very excited about this because USC has had a deep commitment to civic engagement, especially with the Sol Price school, with a lot of different programs over the years locally, nationally and internationally," said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. "This is something I'm very passionate about, and I'll be involved in bringing talent from around the world to USC to do lectures and seminars," Schwarzenegger said. "Its guiding principles and focus reflect our school's mission," USC Price School Dean Jack H. Knott told City News Service . The news was also covered by the Washington Post, the The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Inside Higher Ed , the San Francisco Chronicle, United Press International , KPCC-FM's "Air Talk," another KPCC-FM story, La Opinion, the Daily Caller , and The Wrap .

Gordon's Research Indicates Two Types of Urban Density

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July 27, 2012

The Wall Street Journal highlighted research by USC Price Professor Peter Gordon and a colleague, indicating that there are two types of urban density. "Crude" density refers to the literal density of buildings and living spaces. "Jacobs density" maximizes "potential informal contact of the average person in a given public space at any given time"; it helps residents innovate because they are able to share ideas and cross cultural and ethnic boundaries.

Alumni Featured on NPR on Being Part of New, 'Global' Generation

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July 10, 2012

NPR News' "Morning Edition" highlighted recent USC Price School graduates LaMikia Castillo and Julia Capizzi as part of a new, "global" generation that is changing the American dream. They are more diverse, worldly and interested in traveling internationally than their parents, the story reported. In many cases, they're more interested in helping others than in their own advancement. "My American dream is for other people to be able to achieve whatever it is they would like to achieve," Castillo said. "It's more about trying to make a difference in the world." Capizzi said part of her dream is being willing to travel anywhere to achieve her goals and explore the globe. "The larger world is an extension of me, so I feel an obligation to know what that is. Otherwise I feel like I'm walking around with blinders on."

USC Price Alum Leads Korean Social Science Research Council

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July 6, 2012

Yong-duck Jung Past presidents of the Korean Social Science Research Council include some of South Korea's highest-ranking officials -- among them, a former chairperson of the civil service commission, a former deputy prime minister of education and human resources development, and even the country's former prime minister. Now, a USC alumnus holds the position. Yong-duck Jung, who received his PhD in public administration from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy in 1981, took over as president of the research council in January.

MPP Practicum Brings the Real World Into the Classroom

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June 26, 2012

MPP students deliver a presentation on their practicum project to officials from the Congressional Research Service in Washington, DC From social media in Africa to "fracking" in California, the 2012 Policy Analysis Practicum challenged MPP students from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy to grapple with the most pressing issues of the day. During the practicum, small groups of MPP students worked together to put theory into practice, serving as consultants for high-profile clients and performing in-depth policy analyses of real-world issues. This year, clients included the Congressional Research Service, the RAND Corp., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, among many others.

From Shanghai to SoCal, It's a Small World for USC Price Alumnae

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June 22, 2012

USC Price alumnae Wenting Wu and Ginger Li USC Price alumnae Jingjie "Ginger" Li MPA '11 and Wenting Wu MPA '11 have a lot in common. "Here we have two young ladies from Shanghai who did not know each other there but were both admitted to the Master of Public Administration program at the USC Price School of Public Policy. Now they are both working for USC with important jobs helping to foster the university's global agenda," said Professor Eric Heikkila. Li has been working full-time for the USC Price Office of International Initiatives since July 2011. In May, Wu became the new associate director of the USC Shanghai Office.

USC Price Helps Chinese Officials Develop Climate Action Plans

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June 13, 2012

CAG delegates visit USC Price Faculty at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy hosted a delegation from the Chinese Academy of Governance (CAG) between May 29 and June 1 to share their research on how to develop technically feasible, politically viable and cost-effective climate strategies. The event was coordinated by USC Price Assistant Research Professor Dan Wei and USC Price Research Professor Adam Rose in conjunction with the Center for Climate Strategies. CAG is a training center for people in public service who are in mid- and high-level civil service positions at the national, provincial, and municipal levels in China.

Myers Dissects Europe's Changing Demographics

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May 23, 2012

The Daily Maverick (South Africa) cited Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy about Europe's changing demographics. Myers explains that European societies with low levels of immigration now have young populations too small to support their aging population, heightening difficulties with their economies, according to the story.

Sustainable Funding Vital for China's Infrastructure, Little Says

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March 30, 2012

Richard Little Rapid urbanization has created a need for sustainable funding and financial strategy for infrastructure renewal in China, said Richard Little, a senior fellow at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a seminar offered on March 7 by USC Price and the METRANS Transportation Center. In 1980, China's population was just 20 percent urbanized. Today, that number has reached about 50 percent. To support this unprecedented growth, the country has invested enormous sums to provide transportation, power, communications, sanitation and other basic infrastructure.

Price Ranks among Top Graduate Schools in U.S. News & World Report

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March 14, 2012

U.S. News & World Report featured several USC schools and programs in its 2013 edition of "Best Graduate Schools." The USC Price School was ranked No. 4 for Health Policy and Management; No. 6 in Public Affairs, up from No. 7 last year; No. 6 for Public Management Administration; No. 7 for City Management and Urban Policy; No. 7 for Nonprofit Management; No. 9 in Social Policy; No. 12 for Public Policy Analysis; and No. 21 for Public Finance and Budgeting.

USC Price Signs MOU in Israel

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March 14, 2012

USC Price Signs MOU in Israel The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy advanced its work of "shaping the world" during Dean Jack H. Knott's recent trip to Israel. Knott traveled in the company of USC leaders, including President C. L. Max Nikias. During the trip, Knott forged relationships with policymakers, as well as representatives from top educational institutions, to create new opportunities for collaboration. He signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Israel's first private college.

USC Price Continues to Rise in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

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March 14, 2012

US News Rankings The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy was among several USC schools and programs that ascended in the latest national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report . The Price School climbed to sixth place (from seventh in 2008) in the newest edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools" for public affairs.

USC Price Peers into China's Environmental Future

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February 21, 2012

Matthew Kahn proudly calls himself a "free market environmentalist." During his recent talk on "China's Future Green Cities" at Lewis Hall, he explained the moniker as part of the Urban Growth Seminar Series hosted by the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the USC Center for Sustainable Cities. Kahn, a professor at UCLA, began his talk with the idea that the world's population is urbanizing. China is following this global trend, with half of its denizens now living in cities. This has led to some widely recognized sustainability challenges. According to the World Bank, China has some of the planet's most polluted cities, Kahn noted.

NYPD Expert Breaks Down Al Qaeda's Plots

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February 7, 2012

Perceptions of Al Qaeda as a highly organized, rigidly centralized group that spanned the globe and exercised a precise strategy to defeat the West have proven to be untrue, Mitchell Silber said on Jan. 17 at the first of an ongoing lecture forum offered by the USC National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE). Silber, director of intelligence analysis for the New York City Police Department's Analytical and Cyber Units, offered an operational perspective to go along with the usual academic viewpoint on terrorism that has been presented in the CREATE Distinguished Speaker Series.

USC Price Alum Jen-Hui Hsu Named Taiwan's Deputy Finance Minister

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February 6, 2012

Hsu Jen-hui, dean of the College of Management at Shih Hsin University in Taipei, has been appointed Taiwan's deputy finance minister. Hsu, a graduate of the doctoral program at USC Price, specializes in local government finance and new institutional economics, the story noted.

Journalist Dissects Spread of 'Jihadi Virus' at CREATE Event

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January 5, 2012

Longtime journalist Maria Ressa discussed how social network theory applies to terrorism as part of USC's Distinguished Speaker Series offered by the USC Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE). In a November lecture titled "From Bin Laden to Facebook," Ressa explained how the "jihadi virus" has spread through different societies and geographic locations.

SPPD Defines Global Reach in Hong Kong

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November 2, 2011

Global Conference - SPPD in Hong Kong The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development brought its international expertise to the table at the 2011 USC Global Conference, held Oct. 13-15 in Hong Kong. SPPD faculty joined business experts to discuss issues of worldwide significance at the three-day event. "Most of the issues we deal with -- from health care to urban development to the environment -- don't occur just in the United States but around the world," said SPPD Jack Knott. "We incorporate that global perspective as an integral fabric into everything we do at the school."

Social Media's Role in Arab Revolutions

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October 26, 2011

The Egyptian revolution began on Facebook with a call to protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Protesters used Twitter to maneuver around police and reach the area. People arrived at the location expecting to see a few hundred like-minded individuals. Instead, they found a few hundred-thousand. Until they reached the square, Egyptian dissidents had no clue of their strength. It was a remarkable indication of the power of social networks as a political organizing tool, as has been seen in many uprisings sweeping North Africa and the Middle East. Khaled Fattal '84, chairman of the Multilingual Internet Group, discussed this phenomenon and its implications for the future during a recent lecture at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

SPPD Students Apply Their Lessons Around the World

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September 28, 2011

SPPD International Labs and Internships The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development (SPPD) has a mission to "shape the world," and more than 60 students spent their summers putting these words into action in Brazil, China, Bolivia and Australia.

USC Experts Reflect on Legacy of 9/11

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September 7, 2011

KCET-TV's "SoCal Connected" interviewed Erroll Southers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and Judy Muller of the USC Annenberg School about the legacy of September 11.

Southers Comments on Growth of Private Security Sector Post-9/11

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August 30, 2011

Agence France-Presse quoted SPPD Adjunct Professor Erroll Southers, associate director of the USC Homeland Security Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE), about the growth of the private security sector post-9/11.

Moore Discusses Reputation-building Policies of USC

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August 10, 2011

The Australian (Australia) featured USC's transformation under USC President Emeritus Steven B. Sample. "Today, USC is a pin-up college of American higher education. From 1991 to 2008, USC jumped an unprecedented 28 places to 23rd position on the highly influential U.S. News & World Report rankings," the story stated. Sample established USC as a pioneer in interdisciplinary research and education, and the school now attracts more international students than any other American university, the article stated. "Dramatically improving every aspect of undergraduate education was the highest priority of the USC strategic plan, starting with a complete overhaul of the undergraduate program. Innovations included an interdisciplinary approach, senior academics teaching freshmen in intimate settings, and reducing undergraduate places by 500," the story continued. Sample also implemented a three-tiered, merit-based scholarship program which worked spectacularly well, and USC now out-competes Harvard University, Yale University and Stanford University for the best undergraduate students, the article stated. "Offering responsible, careful, middle-class families with striving children a small amount of merit-based aid that recognized achievement regardless of need resonated like a thunderclap," said Professor James Moore of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and USC Viterbi School of Engineering.

August 5, 2011

Reuters quoted Richard Green, SPPD professor and director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, about the impact of the debt crisis on bids for the U.S. commercial real estate loan portfolio owned by failed lender Anglo Irish Bank.

Experts Rethink Disaster Risk Management

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July 28, 2011

IDRiM conference From the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina to this year's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the last decade has shown that disasters -- whether natural or man-made -- are inevitable and that the next one is coming soon. USC hosted the second annual International Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRiM) conference, "Reframing Disasters and Reflecting on Risk Governance Deficits," which was co-sponsored by the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and CREATE Homeland Security Center.

July 13, 2011

The Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed by SPPD Professor Lisa Schweitzer on whether the U.S., like Greece, might have to privatize large portions of its transportation system as a result of debt crisis. "So long as Americans refuse to even index gas taxes to inflation, let alone raise the tax outright, we won't be spending enough to maintain our transportation infrastructure, which means that its value will continue to fall," Schweitzer wrote. "That will make it difficult to attract private investment or get a fair price for state-owned assets if the government opts to privatize its transportation assets. Too many more years of disinvestment and we will have to make gun-to-the-head decisions like Greece's," she added.

SPPD Practicum Pairs Students with Local, Federal Clients

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July 8, 2011

MPP Practicum How can an online game educate Californians about carbon emissions? What's the best way for the California government to prepare for the baby boomer retirement? Can private canine companies provide an effective and reasonably priced screening method to enhance airline security? These are a few of the real-world issues that USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development MPP students tackled during the 2011 Policy Analysis Practicum.

Southers Examines Implications of Bin Laden's Death

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May 1, 2011

CNN interviewed SPPD Adjunct Professor Errol Southers about the implications of Osama bin Laden's death for al Qaeda. Southers is associate director of USC's National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE)

SPPD Students Put Theory Into Practice

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April 29, 2011

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development gave new meaning to the words "travel planning" during the recent international planning studios in India and Argentina. Led by Tridib Banerjee, SPPD professor and director of graduate programs in urban planning, the two studios gave students an opportunity to put theory into practice, collaborating to address real-world planning challenges in international settings.

SPPD Signs MOU with State of Gujarat

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March 23, 2011

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development (SPPD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Gujarat and the Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University in India to establish a long-term institutional partnership in education and research.

A Stream Flows Anew in Seoul

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February 14, 2011

With the help of Keith Hwang MS '83, Ph.D '92, the Cheonggye stream -- buried for more than a half-century beneath six kilometers of elevated highway -- is flowing again in downtown Seoul. Hwang, president of the Korean Transport Institute, recently visited USC to give a presentation on the stream restoration and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Jack H. Knott, the C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Dean and professor at the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

SPPD's Southers Gives Keynote at Global Security Summit

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January 19, 2011

Erroll Southers, associate director of USC's National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events, delivered the keynote speech at the fifth annual Global Security Leadership Summit in New Delhi, India. Speaking before an audience that included academics and government officials from Asia, Europe and Africa, Southers addressed the topics of terrorism and global security. Southers, MPA '98, is an adjunct professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

How Christianity Came to China

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November 17, 2010

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development co-sponsored a guest lecture featuring former Time magazine correspondent David Aikman, who spoke to USC staff, faculty, alumni and students on "Jesus in Beijing: How Christianity Is Transforming China and Changing the Global Balance of Power."

Michael Chertoff Lectures at CREATE Event

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November 11, 2010

The failed Al Qaeda attempt to blow up U.S.-bound cargo planes in October could be part of a terrorist strategy to move to more small-scale attacks, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff said Sept. 4 as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series offered by USC's National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE).

SPPD Students Intern for World Bank in Beijing

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August 23, 2010

When the World Bank needed two summer interns to serve in its Beijing office, it turned to USC's School of Policy, Planning, and Development. MPA students Muge Wang and Jingjie Li proved to be the ideal candidates, thanks to their fluency in Mandarin and English, previous experience working on urban development issues in China during SPPD's international lab in Foshan and high academic standing. The students spent the summer working on an urban-rural integration project and creating a PowerPoint about the project for use by World Bank staff at global conferences.

USC Urban Planners Scrutinize China

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July 29, 2010

This summer, four USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development students are applying their expertise to some of the complex challenges faced by China, a country with approximately 100 cities with populations over a million. The students are participating in three-month internships hosted by the Chinese Academy of Urban Planning and Development, China's leading urban planning agency. The goal is to foster a long and productive relationship between the professional and academic planning communities of the U.S. and China.

SPPD Volunteers Bring Change to Peru

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July 28, 2010

USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development students Nora Cibrian and Cara Murayama, and professor Richard Sundeen expanded the borders of education during USC's first Alternative Spring Break trip to Cusco, Peru.

July 16, 2010

The Saigon Times (Vietnam) reported that SPPD Professor Eric Heikkila participated in a roundtable focused on master planning for Vietnam's new Hiep Phuoc-Nha Be Port urban area and District 6. Viet Nam News (Vietnam) also covered the story.

Vietnamese Officials Meet SPPD Faculty

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June 24, 2010

Fifteen senior-ranking officials from Vietnam's Ministry of Planning and Investment met with faculty from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development in May to discuss prospective collaborations in education and research. "They are seeking partnerships for developing courses and programs in public administration, public finance, project management and other topics related to regional economic development in Vietnam," said SPPD Senior Associate Dean Genevieve Giuliano.

Six Fulbright Scholars to Date

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May 20, 2010

Six Trojans -- including the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development's Clara Suh '10 -- were awarded Fulbright Fellowships this year, and will be traveling to various corners of the world. Suh, who graduated with a bachelor of science in public policy, management, and planning, will participate in the English Teaching Assistantship program, working in South Korea.

Student Brings Lessons from the Classroom to Bear across the Globe

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May 14, 2010

Clara Suh Clara Suh, a cheerful and driven undergraduate student at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, brought home many valuable lessons - both professional and personal - from her internship in Asia. Suh, a senior graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management, and Planning and a minor in German, spent the summer after her sophomore year working in Hong Kong as part of the USC Global Fellows Internship Program.

Southers Discusses Capability of Pakistani Taliban

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May 10, 2010

ABC Radio (Australia) interviewed Erroll Southers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about the Pakistani Taliban. Southers is the associate director of the National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) at USC, the story noted.

SPPD Students Trained to Fill in the Blanks

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May 7, 2010

During spring semester, 15 graduate students from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development collaborated with students from the Technical University of Berlin on a comparative study of transit-adjacent urban redevelopment. "The overall focus of the Berlin planning studio was the large-scale redevelopment of inner-city rail station sites," said Deike Peters, a SPPD adjunct and director of the planning studio.

Southers Speaks on Panel at Global Conference on Terrorism

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April 28, 2010

Voice of America noted that Erroll Southers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development participated in a panel at the Milken Institute's global conference.

Ph.D. Student Wins Transportation Policy Award

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April 15, 2010

Yin Wang, a doctoral student at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, won the ninth annual paper award competition of the American Society for Public Administration's Section on Transportation Policy and Administration. She won the honor for her essay "Determinants of Utilization of Private Finance in Toll Road Development: Evidence From the United States."

SPPD Doctoral Student Wins Award for Best Paper in Regional Science

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March 18, 2010

SPPD Ph.D. student Yiming Wang recently won the Springer Award for outstanding paper in the field of regional science for his essay, "Decomposing the Entropy Index of Racial Diversity: In Search of Two Types of Variance." Wang was presented with the award at the 49th Western Regional Science Association Annual Meeting, and his paper will be published in The Annals of Regional Science, the WRSA's official journal.

SPPD Dean Tours the Southern Command

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January 20, 2010

USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development Dean Jack H. Knott spoke to a packed audience about his firsthand experiences in Guantanamo Bay and Central and South America while participating in the 78th Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, sponsored by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, last fall. The week-long conference focused on the Southern Command, which is responsible for all U.S. military activities in Central and South America in addition to participating in disaster response in these areas, including Haiti.

USC Professors Tapped as Fulbright Scholars

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January 11, 2009

Peter Robertson was one of three USC professors who have been selected as Fulbright Scholars for 2009-10. Robertson spent four months in Brazil, where his research focused on the development of a network of people and organizations interested in promoting the sustainable development of tourism in Rio de Janeiro.

USC Offers Foreign Students Crash Course in U.S. Culture

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December 29, 2009

The Los Angeles Times featured "The United States: An American Culture Series," a free, non-credit USC class designed to help incoming international students acclimate to American lingo, food and culture. The story stated that the class is an unusual effort that supports USC's more than 7,500 foreign students -- the largest contingent of any U.S. university. Jingjie Li, a master of public administration student at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, said that the course taught her to express her opinions and provided fodder for conversations with fellow students. The article noted that USC has recruitment offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo and Mexico City, as well as a network of 19 international alumni clubs.

SPPD Defines Global Reach in 21st Century

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December 11, 2009

This fall, leaders from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development headed to Foshan, China, to foster dialogue and advance the school's longstanding commitment to global outreach. SPPD cooperated with the World Bank to create an "Urban River Transformation" forum hosted by the Pacific Rim Council on Urban Development and Foshan Municipality in China's Guangdong province.

SPPD Grad Wins Award for Best Dissertation

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November 2, 2009

USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development alumna Anupama Mann recently received the Gill-Chin Lim Award for the best dissertation on international planning for her thesis, "A Megaproject Matrix: Ideology, Discourse and Regulation in the Delhi Metro Rail." The award is given by the Global Planners Educators Interest Group at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.

SPPD to Provide Training to Korean Officials

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April 10, 2009

Carol Rush and Hyung Kook Oh The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean government to provide graduate education and training for selected officials from Korea's Ministry of Public Administration and Security.

Local Port Stakeholders Pack METRANS Town Hall Event

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March 18, 2009

With cargo flow down about one-third since last year, port stakeholders packed the 10th METRANS Town Hall meeting on March 11 in Long Beach. More than 1,000 people, including longshore workers, terminal operators, logistics providers and elected officials, attended the event. The topic was how to make the San Pedro Bay ports competitive and protect high-paying local jobs.

SPPD Signs Pact With World Bank

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February 9, 2009

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and the World Bank signed an agreement designed to merge scholarly research and specific program initiatives to address sustainable development in the East Asia and Pacific Region. The signing ceremony took place during a conference in Washington, D.C., focusing on challenges facing megacities in the developing world.


SPPD Signs Pact With Peace Corps

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December 22, 2008

The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development signed a formal agreement to participate in Fellows/USA, the Peace Corps' graduate fellowship program. This agreement will enable former volunteers to pursue a graduate education in public administration, public policy, urban planning, health administration and real estate development.

SPPD Students Tackle Policy Issues Abroad

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This past summer, more than 40 master's students representing all programs of study with the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development took part in the school's international lab program, doing research in Foshan, China, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Green Discusses Inflated Global Real Estate Prices

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September 18, 2008

Professor Richard Green, director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, was quoted in Forbesabout the types of houses one can buy these days with $1 million. In many U.S. cities, inflated real estate prices can hold firm or slide only slightly in the city center, even as they collapse in the surrounding areas, Green said. "In the inland areas of Los Angeles, you can get a 4,000-square-foot house -- a huge house," he noted. But in popular Santa Monica or Marina Del Rey, "You'll get a shack."

Research Centers and Groups

Tomas Rivera Policy Institute

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The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) is a nationally recognized policy and research organization covering issues related to Hispanic and other low-income minority groups. Founded in 1985, the institute is also well-known in the political behavior field and for its accurate assessment of community attitudes. TRPI is a recognized leader in "college knowledge," specifically the tactics necessary for negotiating acceptance to and gaining the financial support for attending college.