Economic Policy

Low Prices a Problem? Making Sense of Misleading Talk About Cap-and-Trade in Europe and the USA

Robert Stavins | Posted 04.28.2012

Robert Stavins

Since when are low prices considered to be a problem? To understand what's going on, we need to remind ourselves of the purpose (and promise) of a cap-and-trade regime, and then look at what's been happening in the respective markets.

Romney-Ryan's Why Nations Fail Economy vs. Obama's Built to Last Economy

Paul Abrams | Posted 04.05.2012

Paul Abrams

One cannot read Why Nations Fail during this campaign season without recognizing on every page the authors' criteria for successful nations fulfilled by President Obama's built-to-last economic policies and the failing nations' policies being consciously pursued by Romney-Ryan.

Memo to World Bank: Good Health Policy Is Great Economic Policy

Michael Hodin | Posted 03.30.2012

Michael Hodin

As the World Bank lays out its plans to stimulate growth in the coming years, Dr. Kim may be exactly what the doctor ordered -− a health-field expert who can prioritize healthy aging.

Facts Are Stubborn Things

Al Checchi | Posted 04.29.2012

Al Checchi

If we look at the economic facts without prejudice, we must conclude that despite all the changes in our circumstances, booms and busts, activist and conservative government, war and peace, there has been a remarkable constancy and consensus in the actual conduct of our fiscal policy -- until recently.

How to Ascend After Declining?

Otaviano Canuto | Posted 04.24.2012

Otaviano Canuto

Growth in emerging economies has exhibited strong resilience to the downward pull from advanced economies. However, its full potential can only be tapped if all boats are lifted.

Reflections on Twenty Years of Policy Innovation

Robert Stavins | Posted 04.08.2012

Robert Stavins

In 2009, the U.S. Congress considered but ultimately failed to enact legislation aimed at limiting U.S. greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. The bill unde...

Economics of the Environment

Robert Stavins | Posted 03.31.2012

Robert Stavins

The Sixth Edition of Economics of the Environment: Selected Readings has just been published by W. W. Norton & Company of New York and London. Throug...

A Message to Millennials: We Are the Children of Dr. King's Dream

Heather McGhee | Posted 03.18.2012

Heather McGhee

How is it that life has gotten harder financially for the vast majority of Americans over the past forty years, yet we have had so few public solutions?

Dave Jamieson

Obama Whiffs On Campaign Promise

HuffingtonPost.com | Dave Jamieson | Posted 01.05.2012

WASHINGTON -- In 2008, then-President-elect Barack Obama made an ambitious pledge as part of his agenda to fight poverty, one he claimed would help "m...

The Politics of Social Security in 2011: From Supermajority to Supercommittee

Scott Hochberg | Posted 03.04.2012

Scott Hochberg

The determined efforts of the enemies of Social Security to sacrifice the program on the altar of deficit reduction have been frustrated, at least for the moment.

Rebuilding America's Stock of Power

Steve Clemons | Posted 02.27.2012

Steve Clemons

Getting things right with the BRICS plus Turkey is vital to all national security challenges in the future -- and managing the reality that China matters more than all the rest is the vital challenge that matters.

Why the Republican Candidates Are "Econitwits" When It Comes to Our Economic Malaise

Jane White | Posted 02.04.2012

Jane White

The most important deficiency among Democrats and Republicans alike is the lack of awareness of the "inconvenient economic truth" that the time-honored remedies to our woes -- whether they are tax cuts or government stimulus packages -- are irrelevant in this global economy.

The $1 Trillion Student Loan Debt Bubble: An Interview With Robert Applebaum

Brett Greene | Posted 01.09.2012

Brett Greene

After writing an article on forgiving student loan debt as a way to stimulate the economy I was alerted to the fact that Robert Applebaum has a websit...

Economics Without Tears?!

Frank A. Weil | Posted 01.08.2012

Frank A. Weil

Economics is now more real and important than ever, but simultaneously it also seems to be more opaque than ever.

Mike Bloomberg for Treasury Secretary

Brent Budowsky | Posted 12.27.2011

Brent Budowsky

Naming Bloomberg Treasury secretary would be a bold move by Obama to seek a post-partisan truce against gridlock in Washington and to escalate an urgent bid to create jobs, revitalize housing and revive the economy.

George Soros: U.S. Already In Recession

The Huffington Post | Harry Bradford | Posted 11.22.2011

For months, people have been speculating about whether the U.S. economy will enter a double-dip recession. At least one billionaire says the debate is...

Through the Looking Glass and Into the Crazy World of Economics

John R. Talbott | Posted 11.11.2011

John R. Talbott

Economists can't control everything in the world, but can't they at least speak out publicly against some of this nonsense that violates common sense?

A New Approach to U.S. Economic Policy

Nake M. Kamrany | Posted 11.09.2011

Nake M. Kamrany

Undoubtedly there is an urgent need to create jobs and to boost economic growth. However, the partisan tension has not dissipated in light of the prospective presidential election. The government has these following policy options.

Who SEZ One Size Fits All?

Otaviano Canuto | Posted 11.09.2011

Otaviano Canuto

Various policy objectives have motivated the creation -- and exponential expansion -- of SEZs around the world. However, such successes have not been universal or without controversy in the past, nor are they guaranteed in the future.

Simon Johnson: Pay More Attention To S&P Subprime Ratings

New York Times | Simon Johnson | Posted 11.08.2011

Standard & Poor’s downgrade of United States government debt last month has been much debated, but not enough attention has been devoted to the fact...

How The Seven Biggest Presidential Speeches On The Economy Failed

24/7 Wall St. | Posted 11.07.2011

From 24/7 Wall St.: President Barack Obama will give a speech before a joint session of Congress this week, in which he will lay out a job creation pl...

Jordan Howard

How Many Lawmakers Actually Have Economic Degrees?

HuffingtonPost.com | Jordan Howard | Posted 10.24.2011

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers try to convince their constituents that they have the best answers for jumpstarting the economy and lowering the deficit, but ...

Separating Economic Facts From Economic Myths: ProPublica

ProPublica | Michael Grabell | Posted 10.18.2011

With the recent Iowa straw poll and President Obama's bus tour, Americans are hearing a cacophony of arguments about the wobbly economy. The federal s...

GOP Economic Policies Under Heavy Fire

nytimes.com | Posted 10.13.2011

WASHINGTON -- The boasts of Congressional Republicans about their cost-cutting victories are ringing hollow to some well-known economists, financial a...

The Credit Downgrade and the Congress: Why Polarized Politics Paralyze Public Policy

Robert Stavins | Posted 10.11.2011

Robert Stavins

No matter how one feels about the wisdom of Standard & Poor's downgrading of long-term U.S. debt, the issue of greater concern should be their assessment of the state of the U.S. body politic.