What some decry as protectionism and mercantilism is really a rebalancing toward addressing important national issues. The biggest risk to
The Global Economy’s Real Enemy is Geopolitics, Not Protectionism
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A New Financing Pact for Climate-Vulnerable Countries
The world’s most vulnerable countries bear the brunt of a climate crisis they did not create, underscoring the urgent need for a “fit
Labor Day and the Resurgent American Worker
Labor Day 2023 is a good time to reflect on the growing power of the American worker and the political and economic implications.
This Cold War Is Different
Contrary to how it may appear to many, not least in the US, the new cold war seems to be based not on the old logic of polarization, but on
China Must Avoid a Debt-Deflation Spiral
With high debt levels and falling consumer and producer prices, China faces the prospect of a vicious cycle whereby lower demand leads to
Is America Reverting to Isolationism?
Following the first Republican debate of the US presidential primary season, there is good reason to worry about what a Republican victory
Imagining a Keynesian Revival
Arguments between free market orthodoxy and intervention obscure the need for powerful economic leadership.
Is Japan-style Deflation Coming to China?
China’s economy suffers from excesses in real estate, slowing GDP growth and deflation. Those trends will be difficult to reverse. China’s
Why Is US Inflation Falling?
“Economists are much maligned for the bad forecasts. That criticism doesn’t hold up when it comes to falling US inflation.” However
The Populist Advantage
“Disenchantment with free markets, liberalization and globalization has opened the door to populist, simplistic ’solutions’. They
Why Debt is Too Often Misunderstood
Understanding how private, public, and foreign debt are interrelated yields important insights into the workings of the economy. It also leads
AI and the Productivity Imperative
As it stands, the global economic outlook for the next decade appears grim. But a broad-based surge in productivity – fueled by the targeted
China’s Recent Economic Woes Suggest There is Something Seriously Amiss
China’s economy is disappointing. Longstanding challenges related to a misallocation of resources and poor governance are at root.
A Warning from Carl Sagan
Almost 40 years ago, Carl Sagan testified before the US Senate on climate change. He noted, “If you don’t worry about it now, it is too
The Right Way to Intervene in Clean Tech
Energy markets have clearly failed to accelerate the deployment of renewables. But as the pendulum swings in the direction of state intervention,
Protecting the World’s Forests Means Protecting Indigenous Rights
Indigenous peoples have proven to be the best protectors of our world’s natural resources. But their lands and traditional ways of life
America’s Higher-Education Financing Challenge
The Biden administration’s plan to expand income-driven repayment options for student loans is a step in the right direction. But to
Unlike China, India Cannot Be an Economic Superpower
Beginning in the mid-1980s, the prevailing belief among Indian and international observers was that the authoritarian Chinese regime would
Finding Growth in a Fractured World
The Chinese economy’s current travails illustrate the growth challenges facing many other countries around the world. By re-engineering
What to Do About Radical Uncertainty
A longstanding belief in the predictability of market behavior and outcomes has created plenty of fodder for academic theorizing in economics.
Why Is America Undercutting Japan?
At a time when the United States is asking its allies to help it counter China, its wasteful, inefficient industrial policies are making it
Currency, Conflict, and Global Order
A more divided world does not imply the demise of the dollar’s central role in the global economic and financial system.
Winning the Fight for Women’s Land Rights
Gender inequality has prevented female agricultural workers in numerous countries from owning and inheriting the land that they cultivate.
The Long Reach of China’s Demographic Destiny
Although China is on the verge of escaping the dreaded “middle-income trap,” it is aging fast and facing significant economic