Stephen Levy, the long-time director and senior economist at Palo Alto’s Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, is one of the state’s best-known voices on matters ranging from budget policy to long-term development strategy for the world’s eighth-largest economy. Steve will be speaking on the future of the Bay Area economy, our current budget crisis, and emerging trends in housing, workforce and market growth and is interested in answering your questions. You will be able to submit your questions when you register for this event.

Steve is a leading critic of the notion that the state is hostile to business, arguing that California’s high costs are more than offset by such advantages as a highly educated workforce, world-class research institutions, an advanced infrastructure and a business culture that promotes innovation.

Recently, Steve has been doing research on the impact of immigration on the California economy. The Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy (CCSCE) prepared a paper on immigration issues for the California Economic Strategy Panel and is currently studying the implications of immigration for California workforce policy.

Steve is currently helping regional planning agencies in Sacramento and Southern California address the challenges of planning for future growth. CCSCE provides long-term regional projections of jobs, population, households and income. These projections proved the context for discussing policies about land use, transportation and equity related to regional growth.

Steve has degrees in economics from MIT and Stanford University. Steve lives in Palo Alto with his wife, Nancy.