The third annual Oregon Economic Forum focused on the growing problem of health care costs and the burden being placed on the competitiveness of Oregon’s private employers. The forum, which is sponsored by the University of Oregon, took place on Oct. 11 in Portland.

Keynote speaker and former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber described a national model for health care reform. Kitzhaber founded the Archimedes Movement, which encourages engagement and effective action to improve the delivery of health care.

In addition, the forum featured a panel of business and government leaders chaired by Jack Friedman, CEO of Providence Health Plans. The panel reacted to Kitzhaber’s remarks and then discussed various approaches to managing health care economics in Oregon and the nation.

Tim Duy, the forum’s director, author of the monthly University of Oregon Economic Index and an adjunct professor of economics, provided an overview of last year’s Oregon economic trends and a forecast for the coming year.

The mission of the Oregon Economic Forum is to bring university, business and government leaders together to discuss relevant economic issues in an unbiased format.