Watch and Read Interviews!
This video makes mention of controversial political issues. However, Sprout does not subscribe to nor encourage any certain political belief, ideology, or stance. This video is solely meant to provide educational insight.
Watch Sprout members interview Mr. Kallen about the intersection between economics and politics. He answers the following questions:
In a general sense, how are economics and politics related?
What are lobbyists?
Are all lobbyist bad? Are there good lobbyists or do they interfere with the political process?
How do lobbyists affect elections and legislation that gets passed?
How is corporate America affected by politics?
What is Public Choice Theory?
What issues could Public Choice Theory be used to solve in the 2024 election?
Robert Kallen is a clinical professor of economics with over 25 years of teaching experience. He has developed two new courses on business ethics, which concentrate on race, class, and gender issues as well as a course on business, government and democracy, which he is now teaching at Washington University Law School. Kallen founded RSK Strategies, LLC, which provides expertise and capital to small and growing companies specializing in the food and education sectors. From 1984-1992, he was vice president of operations and general counsel for Bake-Line Products, Inc (a private-label cookie manufacturing company with national distribution and annual sales of over $100 million). Kallen was also a staff attorney at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. (1982-1984) and at the Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest (1993-1995). He has served on numerous boards and advisory boards in the private sector. Kallen is currently the secretary-treasurer of the Concord Coalition Citizens' Council (a nonprofit organization dedicated to deficit reduction) and treasurer of the Integrated Pest Management Institute. Additionally, Kallen worked on the 1992 Clinton/Gore transition team for economics and was a legislative fellow in 1982 for Senator Paul Tsongas.