The Economic Implications of the Human Capital Crisis.

April 23, 2002

This hearing would examine the economic implications of the human capital crisis. In January 2001, the General Accounting Office released its report High-Risk Series: An Update, which stated that "A lack of sufficient numbers of experienced staff with the right expertise limits the ability of Commerce and two other trade agencies to monitor and enforce trade agreements." Furthermore, the collapse of Enron begs the question of whether or not our government has the adequate staff to monitor the publicly traded companies which form the foundation of our financial markets and economy. We will hear from witnesses who will testify how the federal government is recruiting, selecting, retaining, and training individuals to oversee trade policies and regulate financial industries.