Council of Councils
Think Global Health
Online Store
Reimagining American Economic Leadership
Toward a More Prosperous, Less Polarized, Worker-Friendly Economy
The U.S. has long relied on tax-and-transfer programs to address the problem of inequality, but these have failed to mitigate growing societal polarization. A new approach to economic policy is necessary that shifts the emphasis toward reducing the sources of inequality.
Trade Offs
U.S. policymakers are ignoring some of the negative trade-offs of current trade policy to the detriment of American global leadership.
Featured Analysis From RealEcon
Exploring three key areas of international economic policy: trade and investment, development, and economic security, i.e., technology controls, supply-chain-resilience measures, and other policies to reduce risk to the economy or national security
Trade and Investment
Trade Isn’t Great Retail Politics for Either Party
Article by Kevin Nealer
The Man Who Would Help Trump Upend the Global Economy
Article by Edward Alden
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Global Trade Leadership
Article by Inu Manak, Author, Edward Alden, Author, and Jennifer Hillman
Development
Mobilizing Clean Energy Financing through the Multilateral Development Banks
Blog Post by Brad W. Setser, Tess Turner and Michael Weilandt
In-Person DC Roundtable: Falling Global Fertility and Its Implications for Climate Change, Political Stability, and Economies
Event by Thomas J. Bollyky, Ann Norris, and Christopher J. Murray
Geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific: An ADB Perspective
Article by Christopher Shim
Economic Security
U.S.-China Economic Relations With Jay Shambaugh
Event with Jay C. Shambaugh, Matthew P. Goodman, and Rush Doshi
Supporting American Small Businesses Against Foreign Threats
Article by Tara Donohue Bartels and Tarah Wheeler
Virtual Media Briefing: U.S. Tariffs on Chinese Imports
Media Briefing by Matthew P. Goodman, Brad W. Setser, and Zongyuan Zoe Liu
RealEcon Launched
-
Coming to Ukraine’s Defense: Leveraging the European Investment Bank for Ukrainian Drone Manufacturers
Enhancing support for Ukraine’s military and defense industrial base is top of mind at the NATO Summit this week, especially if the United States should step back after the presidential election. Despite challenges, there are also opportunities for Europe to unlock and catalyze investment in Ukraine’s defense sector through the European Investment Bank.
-
Sri Lanka’s Bond Deal Should Not Set a Precedent
Rather than reducing the risk of future debt trouble, Sri Lanka’s macro-linked bonds set up the risk that Sri Lanka will fall back into debt trouble in 2029 or 2030.
-
Stagnant Urban Productivity Stunts Latin America’s Economic Growth, Plus Chinese Lenders Turn Away From Latin America
Stagnant urban productivity stunts Latin America’s economic growth; Chinese lenders turn away from Latin America.
-
The United States has long relied on tax-and-transfer programs to address the problem of inequality, but these have failed signally to mitigate growing societal polarization. A new approach to economic policy is necessary—encompassing areas as far afield as labor markets, trade, and capital flows—that shifts the emphasis toward reducing the sources of inequality resulting from the operation of the market.
-
“We should look back on 1944 with a great sense of awe and responsibility” for what could have gone very differently with American history and the Cold War, says Senior Fellow Benn Steil.
-
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has substantially reduced the domestic tax paid by American pharmaceutical giants.
-
One factor boosting the case for an early Fed rate cut is the rise in the labor force participation rate—a rise driven by immigration.
-
Rather than reducing the risk of future debt trouble, Sri Lanka’s macro-linked bonds set up the risk that Sri Lanka will fall back into debt trouble in 2029 or 2030.
-
Enhancing support for Ukraine’s military and defense industrial base is top of mind at the NATO Summit last week, especially if the United States should step back after the presidential election. Despite challenges, there are also opportunities for Europe to unlock and catalyze investment in Ukraine’s defense sector through the European Investment Bank.
-
U.S. policymakers are ignoring some of the negative trade-offs of current trade policy to the detriment of American global leadership.
-
While July 4 elections are likely to end with Labour beating the Conservatives, voters can expect closer ties with Europe and a stronger emphasis on defense regardless of who wins.
-
A new paper published by the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEPR) puts forward an ambitious agenda for innovation in clean energy finance.
-
Current U.S. tariffs on China are costly. But the U.S. has policy options to reduce these costs.
-
Democrats and Republicans have failed to tell a compelling story about trade. The door is open for a new narrative.
-
The EU’s new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles signal a more cautious approach to trade with Beijing.