Dick Simpson, professor of political science and former Chicago alderman, organizes the series, hosted by UIC since 1976. 804 S. Halsted St., from noon to 1 p.m., unless otherwise indicated. All lectures are free and open to the public. Paul O'Conner, executive director of World Business Chicago, will discuss Chicago's emergence as a global city through economic and social diversification. No one really knows where the world is going or how it's going to get there.
Human capital is the primary economic driver, however location and infrastructure still matter.
The nation's and the state's runs are ending, according to O'Conner. The future is all about continent, multinationals and cities. Perceptions of the American big city must switch from a welfare-dependent tax eater to wealth generator. Alfred Salsedo of the Citizens Information Service releases his new book and discusses the dysfunctional aspects of government in the Chicago metropolitan area. Uncoordinated growth leads to traffic congestion, housing and job mismatches, higher taxes, loss of open space and competition for resources.