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JULY 30, 2026 |
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Harvard Kennedy School | | | |
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The national debt was over $38 trillion in October when this photo was taken. It's grown by more than $1 trillion since then. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation) | | |
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Public Finance |
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What’s the deal with the national debt—and how could it affect you? |
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The national debt is complex, and its total is constantly growing. Three economists, including HKS professors Karen Dynan and Douglas Elmendorf, broke down what’s driving the debt, who the United States owes, and what could cause a fiscal crisis. They discussed rising interest rates, tighter credit, and the potential for a hit to jobs and finances. The good news is that a crisis isn’t inevitable, but avoiding one would require an appropriate fiscal response soon: “The longer we wait, the bigger the risk that something will go wrong,” Elmendorf said. The conversation was hosted by The Journalist’s Resource at the HKS Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy.
Learn more about Public Finance at HKS » | | |
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What we're Reading |
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Joint HKS and Harvard Law School student Caleb Groen is a new Jeopardy! champ, winning 12 games and nearly $350,000. | | |
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Cities & Communities |
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Bike-lane politics are about more than bikes |
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Early this month, Boston transportation planner and bike-safety advocate Louisa Gag was killed while cycling in an unprotected bike lane. In Boston, her death has intensified a debate that’s playing out in cities nationwide. Nearly 40,000 traffic deaths occur in the United States each year. HKS Professor Justin de Benedictis-Kessner says the conflict is a window into broader challenges in city politics. Protected bike lanes make streets safer for everyone, but the benefits are largely invisible, while the costs (lost parking, narrower lanes) are easy to see. That asymmetry, he says, makes it hard for even well-intentioned leaders to put money toward bike-lane safety.
Learn more about Cities & Communities at HKS » | | |
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Education, Labor & Training |
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From the Caribbean to Cambridge: The Cayman Islands’ civil service learns from HKS |
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The Cayman Islands have long been recognized as a tourist destination and financial center. Its government is also investing in building a world-class civil service. The Cayman Islands Government collaborated with Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education on a custom three-day program for 25 chief officers. The program offered leadership development courses tailored to the needs of the region and team. Participants described it as a unifying experience that gave senior leaders a shared framework and tools for navigating uncertainty, along with deeper team cohesion.
Learn more about Education, Labor & Training at HKS » | | |
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What we're DOING |
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This month, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the launch of the state’s first general municipal infrastructure lending program, Build For Mass. This program builds on work that HKS Field Lab students conducted in 2024 (covered last year in HKS Magazine). | | | | | |
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