In stark contrast to the rest of the world's advanced nations, the United States is growing at a record rate and, according to census projections, will be home to 400 million Americans by 2050. Noted author and urban historian Joel Kotkin points out in his new book, The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050 (Penguin Press, February 2010), that this projected rise in population is the strongest indicator of America's long-term economic strength as it will make the United States more diverse and competitive than any other nation.

What will America look like in 2050? How will the United States' population growth contribute to its economic vitality? What will be the political impact of these population changes? These and other questions will be addressed by Kotkin, AEI economist and demographer Nicholas Eberstadt, political scientist Ruy Teixeira, and demographer and sociologist William Frey. AEI resident fellow Michael Barone will moderate the discussion.

This event is part of AEI's new Politics Watch series, which runs this year from January through May 2010.