CED Celebrates 70 Years of Excellence in Public Policy

CED President Charles Kolb (center) with CED co-chairs Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., CEO of TIAA-CREF (left) and Donald K. Peterson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (Retired), Avaya Inc.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of The Committee for Economic Development. Since its founding by leading companies and CEOs in 1942, CED has created and promoted policies designed to sustain long-term economic growth that benefits all Americans. CED's founders played a central role in creating the Marshall plan in the late 1940s. That leadership continued throughout the 20th century during high-profile efforts to improve education, foster global trade, and reform our system of financing political campaigns. Today, CED continues to engage business leaders on initiatives to restore our nation's fiscal health; support educational excellence across the spectrum from early childhood development to postsecondary education; embrace sound corporate governance practices; reform the country's campaign and judicial finance systems; address the importance of women's economic empowerment; and make recommendations for an effective U.S. energy policy.

In 2011, CED hosted some 70 events on these issues in communities across the nation, including our Third Annual Economic Summit held in New York City. CED's research work is used on a daily basis by educators, government leaders, policy experts, and journalists. CED is a nonprofit, nonpartisan business-led public policy organization. Our 200 Trustees are chairs, presidents, and senior executives of major American corporations and university presidents. CED Trustees determine our research agenda, develop policy recommendations, and urge their adoption. Unique among U.S. business organizations, CED offers senior executives a nonpolitical forum for exploring critical long-term issues and making an impact on U.S. policy decisions.