What, and who, is an economy for? How did we get here, and where do we go from here?
These were the questions that guided the first-ever Aspen Ideas: Economy gathering in Newark, New Jersey, where leaders from across sectors came together to explore how our systems of work, innovation, and policy can better serve people and communities. What emerged was a shared sense that the economy isn’t a distant force—it’s something we build together.
From Growth to Belonging
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy brought both urgency and optimism to the conversation. “Too many of our norms, too many of our institutions are being called into question. There’s an unprecedented amount of volatility that leads to a lot of economic anxiety,” he said. “We have to prove that government can work for you.”
Later, Manhattan Institute President Reihan Salam offered a perspective that reached beyond political boundaries. He called on his fellow conservatives, and, in truth, on all of us, to stay engaged in shaping our shared economic future.
“Engage,” he urged. “You’re going to be in the minority sometimes, but engage because that’s going to be a big part of your future, and the country’s future.”
Together, their remarks reflected a shared belief that participation is critical. Building an innovative and dynamic economy requires more than policy. It calls for presence, trust, and a commitment to the common good.
Seeing the System, Building the Bridges
Kyla Scanlon, author, econmoics commentator and founder of Bread, helped zoom out on the complexity of today’s economy. “There are all these pain points in the economy that, when you zoom out, are all connected,” she said. “The question is: what do you do about that? What kinds of policies do you pass? What kinds of communities do you support?”
Her call resonated with the spirit of the gathering: to connect ideas that are often siloed—policy and people, innovation and equity, local realities and global trends. Rather than focusing on divisions, participants looked for places of overlap and opportunity.
Meeting the Moment Together
For Daleep Singh, Chief Economist of PGIM, the current moment demands both realism and resolve. “Monetary policy, fiscal policy, regulatory policy, foreign policy—they’re all in flux at the same time,” he said. That uncertainty, he added, calls for civic readiness: “What we can do as concerned citizens is be ready with ideas, energy, and ambition to meet the moment.”
Throughout the event, that sense of shared responsibility echoed. The economy, participants agreed, isn’t just a system of transactions—it’s a network of relationships, decisions, and shared futures.
Looking Ahead
In Newark, our conversations surfaced a shared vision of prosperity, one where innovation expands opportunity, institutions earn trust through effectiveness, and communities have a voice in shaping the systems that serve them.
Building that kind of economy will take all of us — leaders, workers, entrepreneurs, and neighbors — working across divides, guided by a common purpose, and committed to ensuring that progress reaches everyone.
That work continues. Aspen Ideas: Economy will return in 2026, convening next in Tulsa, a city whose own story of renewal and resilience offers powerful lessons about the economy and the spirit of shared growth.
📩 Subscribe to The Slice, A twice monthly newsletter about economic opportunity and shared prosperity, from the Aspen Institute.
We believe a thriving economy is one that ensures financial security, opportunity, and resilience for all. Economic mobility shouldn’t be a matter of luck—it requires intentional design and action. Read more about this work here.
In Focus: Igniting Leadership
Maureen Conway serves as vice president at the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program (EOP). EOP works to expand individuals’ opportunities to connect to quality work, start businesses, and build economic stability that provides the freedom to pursue opportunity.
In this episode of In Session, she talks about the unique challenges and opportunities that come from creating large-scale systemic change in our economic and business structures.
Upcoming Events
Leadership Policy In Action
November 13, 2025
New York, NY
Join us for a unique opportunity to learn how you can affect policy at the local, state, and federal levels and hear stories of real people having real-world impact. This free, in-person event will feature a panel discussion with former San Francisco, CA Mayor London Breed, former Tulsa, OK Mayor G.T. Bynum, and Ryan Pierce from Bloomberg Philanthropies Government Innovation policy and proposal presentations from our Science and Technology Policy Fellows, a networking happy hour, and more.
Aspen Digital is excited to announce the full agenda for the 2025 Aspen Cyber Summit, the nation’s premier annual technology and cybersecurity policy gathering. Celebrating its milestone 10th year, the event brings together leading national and international voices from government, industry, and civil society to create a safer world, online and off. There's still time to register to join us in Washington, DC, but do so soon as tickets are going fast.
Leadership Backsliding on Child Protections: The Return of Child Labor in the US
November 19, 2025
Virtual
Today, children as young as 13 are working in hazardous environments like meatpacking plants, warehouses, and tobacco fields — often at the expense of their health, education, and safety. Join the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program to explore how we arrived at this troubling moment — and what policymakers, advocates, and communities can do to protect children from dangerous labor conditions.
Leadership Aspen Ideas Festival & Aspen Ideas: Health 2026
June 22 - July 1, 2026
Aspen, CO
Inspiration meets action at the 2026 Aspen Ideas Festival and Aspen Ideas: Health! From June 22-July 1, visionary leaders and innovators will unite to explore the ideas shaping our collective future—from breakthroughs in medicine and science to the forces redefining democracy and culture. Be part of the conversation: Register by December 31 to save up to $700 on your pass.
Economic Opportunity United We Stand: A National Strategy to Prevent Scams
Scams and fraud have become a national security threat, costing Americans more than $150 billion annually. The National Task Force on Fraud and Scam Prevention, convened by the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program, has developed a report
that proposes a coordinated national strategy to suppress fraud, modernize legal frameworks, and undermine the scams business model by making it harder for transnational criminals to prey on American households.
Health Dr. Oz at the Aspen Institute
In the latest Public Health Grand Rounds, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz discusses how transparency, compassion, and innovation can strengthen America’s health care system. In conversation with CNBC’s Bertha Coombs
, he explores the agency’s priorities—from expanding access to harnessing AI for better outcomes.
Leadership Meet Aspen Conexión
Aspen Conexión marks the next evolution of the Aspen Institute’s commitment to expanding Latino prosperity and global collaboration. Under Pilar Frank-O’Leary’s leadership, the program will strengthen economic and cultural ties between the United States, Latin America, Spain, and beyond to drive shared growth and innovation.
Economic Opportunity It’s (Still) About the Economy
Economic Opportunity Marketplaceexplored highlights from Aspen Ideas: Economy with an eye on building a more resilient labor market.
Leadership The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Michael Eisner is pledging $4 million to the Aspen Institute to build a new fellowship for arts leaders.
Economic Opportunity Time included Ascend Fellows Layla Zaidane (2022 Cohort) and Dara Eskridge (2023 Cohort) in its Time100 Next list.
Rising Generation The Washington Postcovered the Center for Rising Generations' new 3rd space project Airplane Mode.
Leadership The New York Times referenced Ford CEO Jim Farley's appearance at Aspen Ideas Festival in an article exploring the state of US manufacturing.
Rising Generation Bloomberg looked at the rising costs of youth sports, citing Project Play.
