Navigating Reality with Dr. Mark Skidmore

Dr. Mark Skidmore is a professor of Economics and holds the Morris Chair in State and Local Government Finance and Policy in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economic at Michigan State University. He also serves at Director of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development

Dr Skidmore joined our event hosted by Rob Kirby in Toronto in August. He graciously took time before returning to Michigan to share his latest thinking about how to manage our “map” of reality. These insights reflect his journey from “official reality” to expanding his understanding of the world as a result of the financial crisis and bailouts, reviewing $21 trillion of undocumentable adjustments in the federal accounts and witnessing the adoption of FASAB 56.

We discuss the challenges of understanding and navigating a reality that is increasingly divergent with “official reality” and how to avoid being mislead by “nonsense” along the way. Based on my discussion with subscribers, finding a sensible approach to the fracturing of the world around us is of great importance.