Exploring 'pocketbook politics' in 2012 election

An award-winning economist will make predictions about the 2012 presidential election from a ‘pocketbook perspective’ during a presentation sponsored by Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

Patrick Anderson, principal and CEO of the Anderson Economic Group, LLC, will present an update on his 2004 Edmund A. Mennis award-winning paper “Pocketbook Predictions of Presidential Elections” on February 7. His presentation will take place at 7 p.m. in the Loosemore Auditorium on Grand Valley’s Pew Grand Rapids campus.

“There have been many scientific attempts to predict the winner of presidential elections,” said Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. “Few stand up to scrutiny the way Patrick Anderson’s method does. He brilliantly analyzes the forces that can work in strange ways on the American electorate. In these tough economic times and in this contentious primary season, I look forward to learning more about the often-hidden forces that will shape Americans’ choice in November.”  

His talk will shed light on the impact of financial conditions on presidential elections. It will examine voting habits and issues of income, employment, and inflation, before concluding with a series of predictions.

Anderson has been extremely accurate in predicting outcomes of presidential elections. His formula has successfully predicted 19 out of the last 20 elections using only economic and institutional factors.

The presentation will show what effect financial issues and conditions have on presidential elections. Anderson will touch on issues like income, employment, and inflation and their effect on voting habits.

Anderson is one of the nation’s foremost experts on how private businesses and the economy affect elections.

He has written more than 100 published works, and is the founder of Anderson Economic Group, LLC, which is an economic consulting firm specializing in business valuation, public policy, and industry analysis. He has served as the chief of staff of the Michigan Department of State and as a deputy budget director for the State of Michigan. He was an assistant vice president of Alexander Hamilton Life Insurance Co. and a graduate fellow for the Central Intelligence Agency. He holds a master’s degree in public policy and a bachelor’s degree in political science, both from the University of Michigan.

An RSVP is requested for this event, and can be done online at www.allpresidents.org