The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University will feature discussions on civil discourse led by scholars, including economist Douglas N. Harris. Harris will present findings from his State of the Nation project, which assesses U.S. progress across various measures through bipartisan input. The event, set for March 12-15, aims to foster thoughtful engagement amid political divisions.
The New Orleans Book Festival, hosted at Tulane University’s uptown campus from March 12-15, combines literary events with scholarly panels on pressing societal issues. Beyond bestselling authors, culinary demonstrations, and Family Day activities, the festival emphasizes civil discourse in a polarized era.
Douglas N. Harris, professor and chair of economics in Tulane’s School of Liberal Arts, will participate in a panel moderated by university President Michael A. Fitts. Fitts recently announced the launch of the Tulane Center for Civil Discourse. Harris’s session will focus on his State of the Nation project, which gathered insights from former appointees and advisers across five presidential administrations—spanning Democratic and Republican eras—to evaluate America’s performance in economic, social, and civic areas. The initiative also incorporated feedback from approximately 1,000 residents nationwide, representing diverse political views, to identify shared definitions 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.”
Harris’s findings indicate that, despite partisan tensions, Americans exhibit more agreement on national priorities than commonly perceived. Public views align closely on key issues, providing grounds for optimism about potential progress. The panel will also explore these results alongside themes from related books by co-panelists: Gary Hoover, Tulane’s economics professor and author of Ladder or Lottery: Economic Promises and the Reality of Who Gets Ahead, and Carol Graham, a Brookings Institution fellow and author of Happiness for All? Unequal Lives and Hopes in Pursuit of the American Dream.
Harris views the festival as an ideal venue for civil engagement. “The Book Fest encourages civil discourse,” he said, noting it promotes environments where participants listen and question differing perspectives thoughtfully, rather than resorting to partisan rhetoric. He stressed that rebuilding trust requires prioritizing understanding over argument victories.
Currently, Harris is developing a State of the State report, analyzing national data at the state level and examining the gap between economic gains and declining well-being indicators like happiness. “Without a clear, accurate and unifying diagnosis of the most pressing issues facing the nation, there can be little hope for sensible solutions,” Harris added.
The festival invites authors, scholars, journalists, and community members to discuss literature, history, politics, and culture.
