Ed Leamer, director of the UCLA Anderson Forecast, traveled to Mexico City with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti this week on the first international trade mission of his administration. Leamer, who is also the Chauncey J. Medberry Chair in Management, was part of a delegation focusing on increasing tourism and investment in Los Angeles, as well as encouraging businesses and companies to locate to the city.
Leamer lent his expertise on economic trends and future trade as the team pursued partnerships and advancing existing projects in both countries. He was accompanied by representatives in the entertainment, engineering, design, construction, retail, infrastructure development and environmental sustainability sectors, as well as Councilmember Gil Cedillo, state officials and city staff, and executives from the Port of Los Angeles, Los Angeles World Airports and the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.
“Trust and familiarity are essential for trade and investment between countries,” Leamer said. “This critical trade infrastructure is built when students study in foreign countries. That’s why we need more Mexican students in our colleges and universities here in Los Angeles, and we need to send more of our Angeleno students to study in Mexico.”
