Murphy Institute Scholars to Lead National Policy Discussions at 2026 Book Fest

In addition to bestselling authors, culinary stars and Family Day celebrations, the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University will offer opportunities to explore the importance of civil discourse in today’s society.  The Murphy Institute will be well-represented this year, with back-to-back panels on Friday, March 13, 2026 featuring the Institute's leadership and faculty. 

Among the scholars helping lead such explorations are Douglas N. Harris, professor and chair of economics in Tulane University’s School of Liberal Arts. Harris’ research examines public policy through data-driven analysis.  Joining Harris on the panel will be Gary Hoover, professor of economics and executive director of the Murphy Institute at Tulane University, and Carol Graham, senior fellow in the Economic Studies program at the Brookings Institution and senior scientist at Gallup. Hoover is the author of the recently published book, Ladder or Lottery: Economic Promises and the Reality of Who Gets Ahead. Graham wrote Happiness for All? Unequal Lives and Hopes in Pursuit of the American Dream.”

In a panel moderated by President Michael A. Fitts, who announced this week plans for the Tulane Center for Civil Discourse, Harris and Hoover will discuss his State of the Nation Project, which brought together former appointees and advisers from five presidential administrations, both Democratic and Republican, to evaluate how the United States is performing across economic, social, civic and other measures. The project also solicited feedback from about 1,000 residents throughout the country across the political spectrum. One aim of the State of the Nation project was to see how much common ground there might be on shared definitions and measures of progress.  

“The State of the Nation project offers one of the most bipartisan, evidence-based snapshots of American progress in recent memory,” Fitts said. “Answering the basic question of ‘how are we doing as a nation’ is the first step in fostering constructive dialogue and debate on the most effective ways to move our country forward.” 

The State of the Nation project found that while disagreements exist, Americans share more common ground than the political climate often suggests. Even as dislike of opposing political parties has grown, public views on national priorities align more closely than many assume, according to Harris’ findings. He said those findings offer reason for hope and reinforce the belief that progress is possible.

This Book Fest session will describe the main findings of the State of the Nation project and explore the possible reasons behind the country’s successes and failures from the perspective of authors who have examined related themes in their books.

“The Book Fest encourages civil discourse,” Harris said, emphasizing that the festival allows people to discuss complex issues without reducing them to partisan talking points. “The festival also fosters an environment centered on ideas and discussion, where attendees are more willing to listen, ask questions and engage thoughtfully, even when perspectives differ.”

Harris is currently working on a State of the State report, breaking down the national averages from the original State of the Nation report into individual state analyses and examining patterns across states. The report will also continue to explore one of the key findings from the original report — the growing disconnect between Americans’ economic success and the decline in happiness and other broader measures of well-being. State of the Nation is funded by The Murphy Institute.

“Without a clear, accurate and unifying diagnosis of the most pressing issues facing the nation, there can be little hope for sensible solutions,” Harris said.  

The New Orleans Book Festival will take place March 12-15 on Tulane’s uptown campus and will bring together authors, scholars, journalists and community members for discussions spanning literature, history, politics and culture. 

12:00 PM | The State of the Nation Project: In Books

This session, moderated by President Michael A. Fitts, marks a deep dive into the State of the Nation Project, a high-profile, bipartisan initiative that recently released a comprehensive progress report on how the United States is performing across economic, social, civic and other measures. Hoover and Harris will discuss the project’s findings, analyzing the data behind America’s successes and failures through the lens of their own extensive research and recent publications.

Location: ROTC Building

Murphy Participants: Gary Hoover & Douglas Harris

Also Featuring: Carol Graham (Brookings Institution)

Moderator: President Michael A. Fitts

1:00 PM | America 250: Can Government Help?

Following the first panel, Gary Hoover joins Marc J. Dunkelman to look ahead toward the nation’s 250th anniversary. This conversation will bridge the gap between founding American ideals and modern civic reality, questioning whether public institutions can still drive opportunity and innovation in an era of deep political division and public skepticism.

Location: Marshall Family Commons (Goldring/Woldenberg Business Complex)

Murphy Participant: Gary Hoover

Also Featuring: Marc J. Dunkelman (Brown University)

Moderator: Nicholas Lemann (Columbia Global Reports)

The Murphy Institute encourages students, faculty, and the New Orleans community to attend these sessions. Both panels are free and offer a unique opportunity to engage with top-tier economic and political analysis in an accessible forum.

For full event details and the complete festival schedule, visit bookfest.tulane.edu.