The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute announces its next Newsmaker Breakfast, a monthly event highlighting important issues impacting Utahns.
This month, we welcome author and economics professor Dr. Michael Geruso, who will present insights from his latest book, “After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People.” In “After the Spike,” Dr. Geruso explores the complex interplay between population dynamics and societal progress, arguing that people are the cornerstone of economic growth and innovation. The book delves into the challenges posed by declining fertility rates, a trend seen globally, and discusses the potential social and economic impacts of shrinking populations.
While Utah’s unique demographic profile means it may not feel the full effects of these shifts as soon as other regions, it remains imperative to understand the forces at play. Following Dr. Geruso’s presentation, he will be joined by demographers from the Gardner Institute, who will provide an overview of the latest demographic trends and discuss implications specifically for Utah, providing a starting point for policymakers and stakeholders to consider in navigating demographic change.
Join us for this enlightening discussion on demographic transformations and their far-reaching implications. The conversation will be moderated by Gardner Institute director of demographic research Mallory Bateman. Media are invited to attend and ask questions.
REGISTER NOW
Panelists
Dr. Michael Geruso, Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Mallory Bateman, Director of Demographic Research, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
Emily Harris, Senior Demographer, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
About Michael Geruso
Dr. Michael Geruso is an economic demographer, public economist, and associate professor of economics at the University of Texas at Austin. From 2023 to 2024, he served as a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, where he advised on issues of health and demography. He holds bachelor’s degrees in engineering, political science, and philosophy. He earned his PhD in economics from Princeton and completed postdoctoral work at Harvard prior to joining the faculty at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Since 2014, he has served on the board of the Research Institute of Compassionate Economics (r.i.c.e.). He is an affiliate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and of the Population Research Center at UT-Austin. His work has been published in top peer-reviewed outlets including the American Economic Review, the Journal of Political Economy, and Demography, and has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, Vox, The Atlantic, and The Economist
