Although verbal aptitude is great for communication in the workplace, it may not actually be an essential component of our modern American definition of progress. In fact, assigning it too much weight may actually have political and economic side effects. The Hall Institute’s Jarrett E. Chapin explores these and other issues in Our American Definition of Progress: What Do You Do With a BA in English?

A Primary Challenge? — As Governor Corzine prepares to seek a second term as the state’s chief executive, attorney Michael M. Shapiro speculates on whether the Governor will face a primary challenge. Read more in Corzine Should Not Count His Chickens...

Civics Lesson — In his current PolitickerNJ.com column, Hall Institute Executive Director Michael P. Riccards bemoans the state of the public’s knowledge of civics and American government. Learn why he feels this way in Who Is George Washington?

Justice for All? — Congress is investigating the Justice Department for deferring the prosecution of corporate wrongdoing and then appointing monitors to oversee the implementation of that deferred prosecution. In Justice Department Can’t Defer Taking Ethics Action, Linda Stamato outlines the controversy and how it relates directly to the State of New Jersey.

Visit the Hall Institute online at WWW.HALLNJ.ORG to read these articles and other topical material:

• Riccards on New Jersey 2008 — A blog on our state's expanded role in the 2008 presidential race.
• Rich Lee on Media — Musings on those who make the news and those who report it.
• White Papers
• Research Essays
• Op-Ed Articles
• Press Releases

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

Since its inception two years ago, the institute has emerged as a leading voice for public policy in New Jersey. More than 400 papers, on topics ranging from health care to education to property taxes, have been posted on our website.

In 2006, the institute presented an online Virtual Debate among the candidates in New Jersey's U.S. Senate race. Plans are underway for a 2008 Virtual Debate for this year's Senate race. We also are sponsoring NJ2008, a special section on New Jersey's role in the 2008 presidential campaign.

The Hall Institute also produces a 30-minute public affairs television program and recently acquired the Bay Area Center for Voting Research, a non-partisan think tank based in Berkeley, California.

In addition to our other activities, the institute also has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on its website.

Located in Trenton directly across from the New Jersey Statehouse, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.