Moderator:
Bradley Belt, Senior Managing Director, Milken Institute

Pundits and policymakers on the left say that the rich don't pay their fair share. Those on the right say that half of American households don't pay any federal income taxes, and that's not fair. With attention focused on the 1 percent vs. 99 percent divide and changing patterns of income and tax distribution, how do we decide what constitutes a "fair" allocation of the costs of government? Is there any way to strike a reasonable compromise?

Moderator:
James McCaughan, CEO, Principal Global Investors

After the Soviet Union collapsed and China scrapped socialism, the triumph of free-market capitalism seemed assured. But a host of global trends - from greater financial market instability and rising income inequality to uncontained climate change - are challenging the established wisdom that capitalism is self-sustaining. Meanwhile convergence between mature industrial economies and rapidly growing emerging economies may well diffuse global power in ways that make it more difficult to manage systemic risks. This panel will discuss capitalism's prospects and consider policies that would preserve the efficiency-enhancing benefits of free markets while moderating the risk of self-destruction.

Moderator:
Komal Sri-Kumar , Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; Group Managing Director and Chief Global Strategist, TCW Group Inc.

Global patterns of trade are being fundamentally redrawn: Not only are U.S. energy imports declining, but China just posted its biggest trade deficit in 22 years. New trading partnerships are being formed between powerhouses like China and Brazil; Canada is negotiating a potential free-trade agreement with Europe; and emerging economies from across Asia are becoming major exporters. Although many nations are looking to exports as a driver of growth, world trade flows for most major economies have slowed in recent quarters, and the OECD recently cut its forecast for 2012 trade growth by almost half. How will a European slowdown affect world trade? What are the implications of Russia joining the WTO? As nations compete for market share, what are the new relationships - and rivalries - that will define the future?

Speaker:
Peter Chiarelli, CEO, One Mind for Research; General (Ret.) and former Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Army

Interviewer:
Maria Bartiromo, Anchor, CNBC

Even after our soldiers return home, many of them remain in harm's way. More than 300,000 U.S. soldiers and veterans are struggling with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder. Gen. Peter Chiarelli has been a tireless advocate for eliminating the stigma associated with service members and veterans, getting them the help they need to treat the invisible wounds of war. As the new CEO of One Mind for Research, he is now leading an effort to bring together health-care providers, researchers, academics and the health-care industry - on a global scale - to cure brain disorders. In this role, Chiarelli is determined to forge unprecedented collaboration and alignment among global stakeholders in brain research through public-private partnerships. He will sit down for a conversation with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo to talk about his new mission at One Mind for Research - and about what the business community can do to ensure that veterans receive the support they need to reintegrate into their families and the workforce.

Moderator:
Zachary Karabell, Senior Fellow, Milken Institute; President, River Twice Research

The U.S. economy still needs to generate more jobs to put the young, old and everyone in between back to work. What strategies do policymakers need to pursue? Should the U.S. become more like Texas in streamlining regulations for business? What can be done to improve access to capital for small businesses, which are historically an engine of job creation? Should more aggressive policies such as a temporary federal retraining wage supplement be provided to employers that retrain workers? Should reauthorization of the highway bill be expedited to fix infrastructure and employ construction workers? Should a lower corporate tax rate be provided to manufacturing firms? Should the U.S. do more to bolster exports? Should we expand foreign talent, investor and entrepreneur recruitment? What other ideas might jumpstart job creation?

Moderator:
Bradley Belt, Senior Managing Director, Milken Institute

Pension deficits are at record levels. Public-sector pension issues, in particular, are highly politicized and threaten governments with insolvency. Meanwhile, most households have insufficient savings to be able to retire. Are these problems insurmountable? As it turns out, there are examples of plan sponsors coming to grips with their funding challenges. And the private sector is developing new products and services designed to take some of the risk and uncertainty out of saving and retirement spending. This panel will highlight lessons from the front lines in both the public and private sectors.

Moderator:
Skip Rimer, Executive Director, Programs and Communications, Milken Institute

What passes for political discourse on the campaign trail and the Sunday talk shows is increasingly disconnected from the issues that are top of mind for most Americans. Do voters really want to focus so heavily on social controversies rather than pocketbook issues? Is the electorate actually as conservative as the media portrays? Why do politicians so often ignore views held by the majority - and how do they get away with it? Is the GOP on a collision course with the demographic changes that are remaking America? Why did the Occupy movement resonate so deeply? In the past, voters have said they want change, but they've continued to return their incumbent representatives to Congress; will this be the year that they really vote the bums out? This panel of experts will take an in-depth look at what polling numbers reveal about what Americans truly want.

Speaker:
Richard Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations

Interviewer:
Walter Isaacson, President and CEO, Aspen Institute

Beyond the Beltway, few people ponder the international scene more deeply than Richard Haass and Walter Isaacson. Ambassador Haass, who served in both Bush administrations, has been at the heart of high-level decision-making about U.S. involvement in the Middle East. He recounted his impressions in "War of Necessity, War of Choice," one of 11 books he has written or edited on U.S. foreign policy. Isaacson ran two of the most trusted news organizations in the nation as chairman and CEO of CNN and managing editor of Time magazine. More recently, he was chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and other international broadcasts that bring U.S. viewpoints to the rest of the world. Drawing on decades of experience, they will sit down for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about how the rest of the world perceives the United States. Do other nations still look to us for innovation and culture? Are we a source of stability and leadership? How has our standing changed after the Iraq War and the financial crisis? Does the current dysfunction in Washington undermine our ability to promote democracy around the world? What kind of influence will the United States wield on the world stage in the decades ahead?

Moderator:
Rick Newman, Chief Business Correspondent, U.S. News & World Report

The housing market continues to sputter along. What policies and investments could finally bring it back to health? The government's involvement in the housing sector has never been greater, though its various programs to help struggling homeowners have had limited effect. Almost all securitization activity in the housing sector is now being undertaken by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. Can we not only reform the GSEs but also bring private capital back into the market? How has the housing bust affected multifamily development and the rental market? What is the best way to address foreclosures and help homeowners who are underwater?

Moderator:
Stephanie Ruhle, Correspondent, Bloomberg Television

There's no denying it: Americans have lost faith in Washington. They're looking for positive leadership in Congress and are tired of partisan sniping - and our panel is, too. This session brings together a group of strong-willed, opinionated leaders from both right and left to talk about what ails Washington and what can be done to move forward on a bipartisan basis. They'll deliver a message that sorely needs to be heard within the Beltway: The rest of us are waiting for you to start governing and get things done.

Moderator:
James Rubin, Counselor of Competitiveness and International Affairs to Governor Andrew Cuomo

Libya, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan . . . what lessons have been learned, and how will they shape U.S. military decision-making in the years ahead? How deeply will the U.S engage in future conflicts, and how will the international community respond? Military strategy evolves right along with technology, and the conflicts of the last decade have changed the way war is waged. What will the U.S. military look like in the future? Will we still use ground troops? How many conflicts can our forces engage in simultaneously? How will we handle the ethical questions raised by the increasing use of drones, robotics and advanced technologies? Can we continue to justify military spending that vastly outstrips the rest of the world, or is it time to scale back the defense budget strategically? This panel will consider all of these questions - along with the continuing ramifications of modern warfare as more of our veterans return home.

Speaker:
Max Baucus, U.S. Senator and Chairman, Senate Finance Committee

Interviewer:
Bradley Belt, Senior Managing Director, Milken Institute

Moderator:
Gillian Tett, U.S. Managing Editor, Financial Times

Can the United States live within its means while still investing in the future? Does it make sense to focus on deficit reduction right now, especially with the government's borrowing costs at historic lows? Or do we need further stimulus to jumpstart job growth? With aging roads and bridges falling into disrepair, how much longer can we postpone large-scale infrastructure projects? How will we continue to invest in education and innovation? Is there a responsible way to cut the defense budget? Is it time to shift the conversation from cutting the budget to raising revenues? This panel will examine whether it's possible to take a balanced approach to deficit reduction that won't harm our prospects for future growth.

Moderator:
Paul Kedrosky, Contributing Editor, Bloomberg; Partner, Omensetter Capital and SK Ventures

With Congress mired in gridlock, waiting for federal aid to arrive from Washington is a losing proposition. What can state and local officials do to seize the initiative and jumpstart their economies? Balanced-budget requirements don't leave much room to maneuver in many cases - but some locations are trying creative strategies to spark economic growth. What are the best approaches for supporting the entrepreneurs and small businesses that typically generate new jobs, industries and technologies? This panel will explore what states can do to steer their own economic destinies.

Moderator:
Jessica Yellin, Chief White House Correspondent, CNN

Our annual political dinner brings together a panel of senior policymakers to discuss what's really at stake for America's future. It's time to get serious about issues like entitlement spending, health care, the deficit and job creation. Is there any hope for ending Washington's gridlock? Can either party afford to compromise while keeping its base on board in a general election year? Our panel will analyze America's most pressing challenges - and whether we can get government working again.

Moderator:
Derek Thompson, Senior Editor, Business, The Atlantic

Austerity measures are being implemented across the nation and around the world, but finding ways to reinvigorate economic growth - high-quality economic growth - needs to be at the top of the policy agenda. How can policymakers stitch together the various elements needed to create a vibrant, innovation-driven economy? It starts with human capital development (both homegrown and foreign-born) and R&D investment. Those priorities have to be combined with the right tax environment, ease of access to early-stage risk capital, the ability to commercialize university and lab research, and a business-friendly ecosystem. What are the best policies for promoting innovation, firm growth and broad-based economic expansion? Which nations have put best practices into action?

Moderator:
Justin Fox, Editorial Director, Harvard Business Review Group

The recent bursting of the housing bubble has caused America to take a hard look at its love affair with the suburbs. Very few suburbs can function without the core of economic activity, infrastructure and cultural activity that cities provide. Is it finally time to rethink the development model of the post-World War II era? Can we reduce traffic and oil consumption by investing in public transit and better integrating it into the way we plan communities? Does the future lie with urban infill? Can we make cities more sustainable? Is there a way to preserve and retrofit, or do we need to be more willing to bulldoze and start anew? And how can we afford these changes?

Moderator:
Christopher Ailman, Chief Investment Officer, California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS)

We've heard a dozen times that we've turned the corner on the European debt crisis. Can we believe it this time? Has the European Central Bank made all the right moves to avoid a major credit crunch? Will Portugal or Ireland need to undergo a Greek-style debt restructuring? In the meantime, the impact of austerity is becoming clear as several European economies slip into recession. Which European nations and sectors are best positioned to ride things out? Will high unemployment lead to more social and political unrest across the continent? Just how deep will the downturn be, and how will it affect the recovery under way in the rest of the world? This panel of experts will examine the latest developments, how recent events have weakened the ties that bind the euro zone, and how European policymakers can address the fundamentals to restore growth.