ThoughtGallery.org > Intelligence Squared U.S. Presents: Forgive Student Debt CANCELED

Intelligence Squared U.S. Presents: Forgive Student Debt CANCELED

Americans owe an estimated $1.6 trillion – or nearly 8 percent of the nation’s GDP – in student debt.  Many young borrowers credit burdensome loans as the primary reason they haven’t purchased a home, started a family, or reached the economic milestones of past generations. Facing growing discontent over the rising cost of higher education, prominent Democrats – and some Republicans – are calling on Washington to act. They argue that forgiving federal student debt would save a generation from financial hardship, boost the economy, and help combat inequality. But their opponents argue that these proposals are simply too costly. In addition to ballooning the federal deficit, canceling student debt would reward irresponsible borrowers and waste taxpayer money on those who are not actually in need. Is it time for a student loan bailout? Or are federal dollars better spent elsewhere?

FOR THE MOTION
Mehrsa Baradaran − Professor of Law & Author, “The Color of Money”
Mehrsa Baradaran is a law professor at the University of California-Irvine and the author of “The Color of… read bio
Caitlin Zaloom − Cultural Anthropologist & Author, “Indebted”
Caitlin Zaloom is a cultural anthropologist and the author of “Indebted: How Families Make College Work at… read bio
AGAINST THE MOTION
Beth Akers − Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute & Author, “Game of Loans”
Beth Akers is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, where her work focuses on labor economics and the… read bio
Nick Gillespie − Editor-at-Large, Reason
Nick Gillespie is the editor-at-large of Reason, the libertarian magazine of “free minds and free markets,” and the… read bio










When: Wed., Mar. 11, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:45 pm
Where: Florence Gould Hall
55 E. 59th St.
212-355-6160
Price: $40
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Americans owe an estimated $1.6 trillion – or nearly 8 percent of the nation’s GDP – in student debt.  Many young borrowers credit burdensome loans as the primary reason they haven’t purchased a home, started a family, or reached the economic milestones of past generations. Facing growing discontent over the rising cost of higher education, prominent Democrats – and some Republicans – are calling on Washington to act. They argue that forgiving federal student debt would save a generation from financial hardship, boost the economy, and help combat inequality. But their opponents argue that these proposals are simply too costly. In addition to ballooning the federal deficit, canceling student debt would reward irresponsible borrowers and waste taxpayer money on those who are not actually in need. Is it time for a student loan bailout? Or are federal dollars better spent elsewhere?

FOR THE MOTION
Mehrsa Baradaran − Professor of Law & Author, “The Color of Money”
Mehrsa Baradaran is a law professor at the University of California-Irvine and the author of “The Color of… read bio
Caitlin Zaloom − Cultural Anthropologist & Author, “Indebted”
Caitlin Zaloom is a cultural anthropologist and the author of “Indebted: How Families Make College Work at… read bio
AGAINST THE MOTION
Beth Akers − Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute & Author, “Game of Loans”
Beth Akers is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, where her work focuses on labor economics and the… read bio
Nick Gillespie − Editor-at-Large, Reason
Nick Gillespie is the editor-at-large of Reason, the libertarian magazine of “free minds and free markets,” and the… read bio
Buy tickets/get more info now