Robert Kuttner
Encyclopedia
Robert Kuttner (ˈkʌtnər) is an American
journalist and writer. Kuttner is the co-founder and current co-editor of The American Prospect
, which was created in 1990 as "an authoritative magazine of liberal
ideas," according to its mission statement. He was a twenty year columnist for Business Week and continues to write columns in The Boston Globe
.
He is also one of five co-founders of the Economic Policy Institute
, and currently serves on its board of directors. In 2007, Kuttner joined the non-partisan public policy center Demos
as a Distinguished Senior Fellow.
, the University of California, Berkeley
, and the London School of Economics
.
At different times throughout his career he has taught at Brandeis
, Boston University
, University of Massachusetts Amherst
, and Harvard's Institute of Politics. He has also been a John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard University, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at UC-Berkeley, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a Radcliffe Public Policy Fellow.
He holds an honorary degree from Swarthmore College
.
In addition to his early work at Pacifica Radio
, including a stint as general manager of WBAI
-FM in New York
, he has served as Washington Editor of the Village Voice, economics editor at The New Republic
, and was a member of the national staff at the Washington Post. Between 1984 and 2005 he was one of five columnists for the "Economic Viewpoint" section (also titled "Economic Watch") of BusinessWeek
. He has been a columnist in the Boston Globe since 1985.
and labor theory
, as well as his political support for the revival of a robust labor-left agenda, including The Economic Illusion, Everything For Sale: The Virtues and Limits of Markets, The End of Laissez-Faire, The Life of the Party, and The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity (Knopf, 2007).
His most recent book, Obama's Challenge: America's Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency, presents a vision of Barack Obama
's opportunity to transform American politics.http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2008/08/obamas-challeng.html
, Firing Line
, Debates-Debates, Crossfire
, and NOW on PBS.
, Kuttner has served in several capacities within the federal government, including as an investigator for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
, as well as serving as Executive Director of former President Carter's
National Commission on Neighborhoods.
Award, which he won twice, for his 1997 book Everything For Sale, and in 2008 for "Obama's Challenge."
He has also been the recipient of the Paul Hoffman
Award for Human Development of the United Nations, the Jack London
Award for labor journalism, and the John Hancock
Award "for excellence in business and financial journalism."
in Boston. His former wife, the late Sharland Grace Trotter, was a psychotherapist and author. His daughter Jessica is a clinical social worker currently living in western Massachusetts and his son Gabriel is a stage actor and director in Boston.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist and writer. Kuttner is the co-founder and current co-editor of The American Prospect
The American Prospect
The American Prospect is a monthly American political magazine dedicated to American liberalism. Based in Washington, DC, The American Prospect is a journal "of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics" which focuses on United States politics...
, which was created in 1990 as "an authoritative magazine of liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
ideas," according to its mission statement. He was a twenty year columnist for Business Week and continues to write columns in The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
.
He is also one of five co-founders of the Economic Policy Institute
Economic Policy Institute
The Economic Policy Institute is a 501 non-profit, liberal, nonpartisan think tank that seeks to broaden the public debate about strategies to achieve a prosperous and fair economy...
, and currently serves on its board of directors. In 2007, Kuttner joined the non-partisan public policy center Demos
Demos (U.S. think tank)
Demos is a United States-based research and policy center that was founded in 2000. Based on its widely cited work in the media and growing impact on national and state policy, Demos continues to influence North American debate about election reform and economic security, with a particular emphasis...
as a Distinguished Senior Fellow.
Education/Academe
Robert Kuttner attended Oberlin CollegeOberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
At different times throughout his career he has taught at Brandeis
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
, Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
, and Harvard's Institute of Politics. He has also been a John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard University, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at UC-Berkeley, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a Radcliffe Public Policy Fellow.
He holds an honorary degree from Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
.
Writer and editor
Kuttner has had an extensive career as a writer and editor at various national publications.In addition to his early work at Pacifica Radio
Pacifica Radio
Pacifica Radio is the oldest public radio network in the United States. It is a group of five independently operated, non-commercial, listener-supported radio stations that is known for its progressive/liberal political orientation. It is also a program service supplying over 100 affiliated...
, including a stint as general manager of WBAI
WBAI
WBAI, a part of the Pacifica Radio Network, is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station, broadcasting at 99.5 FM in New York City.Its programming is leftist/progressive, and a mixture of political news and opinion from a leftist perspective, tinged with aspects of its complex and varied...
-FM in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he has served as Washington Editor of the Village Voice, economics editor at The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
, and was a member of the national staff at the Washington Post. Between 1984 and 2005 he was one of five columnists for the "Economic Viewpoint" section (also titled "Economic Watch") of BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
. He has been a columnist in the Boston Globe since 1985.
Writings
Robert Kuttner is author of several books dealing with economicEconomics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and labor theory
Labor theory of value
The labor theories of value are heterodox economic theories of value which argue that the value of a commodity is related to the labor needed to produce or obtain that commodity. The concept is most often associated with Marxian economics...
, as well as his political support for the revival of a robust labor-left agenda, including The Economic Illusion, Everything For Sale: The Virtues and Limits of Markets, The End of Laissez-Faire, The Life of the Party, and The Squandering of America: How the Failure of Our Politics Undermines Our Prosperity (Knopf, 2007).
His most recent book, Obama's Challenge: America's Economic Crisis and the Power of a Transformative Presidency, presents a vision of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's opportunity to transform American politics.http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2008/08/obamas-challeng.html
Commentator
Kuttner has appeared as a commentator—usually offering a liberal counterpoint—on numerous public affairs and debate programs, including National Public Radio, The Newshour with Jim LehrerThe NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
PBS NewsHour is an evening television news program broadcast weeknights on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. The show is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, a company co-owned by former anchors Jim Lehrer and Robert MacNeil, and Liberty Media, which owns a 65% stake in the...
, Firing Line
Firing Line
Firing Line was an American public affairs show founded and hosted by conservative William F. Buckley, Jr. Its 1,504 episodes over 33 years made Firing Line the longest-running public affairs show in television history with a single host...
, Debates-Debates, Crossfire
Crossfire (TV series)
Crossfire was a current events debate television program that aired from 1982 to 2005 on CNN. Its format was designed to present and challenge the opinions of a politically liberal pundit and a conservative pundit.-Format:...
, and NOW on PBS.
Government service
In addition to being a punditPundit (politics)
A pundit is someone who offers to mass media his or her opinion or commentary on a particular subject area on which they are knowledgeable. The term has been increasingly applied to popular media personalities...
, Kuttner has served in several capacities within the federal government, including as an investigator for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
The United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs has jurisdiction over matters related to: banks and banking, price controls, deposit insurance, export promotion and controls, federal monetary policy, financial aid to commerce and industry, issuance of redemption of notes,...
, as well as serving as Executive Director of former President Carter's
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
National Commission on Neighborhoods.
Recognition
Robert Kuttner has been recognized by various organizations for his career as a journalist. These honors include the Sidney HillmanSidney Hillman
Sidney Hillman was an American labor leader. Head of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, he was a key figure in the founding of the Congress of Industrial Organizations and in marshaling labor's support for Franklin Delano Roosevelt and the Democratic Party.-Early years:Sidney Hillman was...
Award, which he won twice, for his 1997 book Everything For Sale, and in 2008 for "Obama's Challenge."
He has also been the recipient of the Paul Hoffman
Paul Hoffman
Paul Hoffman is a prominent author and host of the PBS television series Great Minds of Science. He was editor in chief of Discover, in a ten-year tenure with that magazine, and served as president and publisher of Encyclopædia Britannica before returning full-time to writing and consulting work....
Award for Human Development of the United Nations, the Jack London
Jack London
John Griffith "Jack" London was an American author, journalist, and social activist. He was a pioneer in the then-burgeoning world of commercial magazine fiction and was one of the first fiction writers to obtain worldwide celebrity and a large fortune from his fiction alone...
Award for labor journalism, and the John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
Award "for excellence in business and financial journalism."
Family
Kuttner's wife Joan Fitzgerald is the Director of the Law, Policy and Society Program at Northeastern UniversityNortheastern University, Boston
Northeastern University , is a private, secular, coeducational research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has eight colleges and offers undergraduate majors in 65 departments...
in Boston. His former wife, the late Sharland Grace Trotter, was a psychotherapist and author. His daughter Jessica is a clinical social worker currently living in western Massachusetts and his son Gabriel is a stage actor and director in Boston.
External links
- Obama's Challenge-- NOW on PBS
- SquanderingofAmerica.com Official website
- American Prospect biography
- American Foreign Policy as Political Failure Speech delivered before the New America FoundationNew America FoundationThe New America Foundation is a non-profit public policy institute and think tank with offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, CA. It was founded in 1999 by Ted Halstead, Sherle Schwenninger, Michael Lind and Walter Russell Mead....
- TAP Robert Kuttner Column Archive
- Globalization and World Capitalism Epistolary debate between Kuttner and Johann Norberg, overseen by the Cato InstituteCato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
- What sank Asia? Money sloshing around the world
- Debate between Kuttner and William Kristol