The hottest Economic Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

How we could return to the productivity growth of the 1990s

Noahpinion • 4705 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Productivity Economic Policy Investment Labor Market Monetary Policy
  1. Productivity growth is crucial for controlling inflation, maintaining a stable economy, and improving living standards.
  2. To boost productivity growth, a combination of macroeconomic factors like full employment, investment incentives, and stable supply-side conditions is essential.
  3. Three key factors that fostered productivity growth in the 1990s were full employment, high fixed investment, and stable supply with low inflation; replicating these conditions today would require strategic policy interventions.

Japan isn't quite "back", but it has a fighting chance

Noahpinion • 11000 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Economic Policy Defense Immigration Industrial Policy Corporate culture
  1. Japan's stock market is rallying due to foreign investment, but the real economy is struggling with recession and weak manufacturing and exports.
  2. Japan is increasing defense spending and bringing in foreign workers to address labor shortages, however, concerns remain about assimilation and potential backlash.
  3. Japan needs to focus on reclaiming its position in key industries like electronics, developing a software industry and EVs, and reforming its corporate culture to boost economic growth.

Biden should run on a message of abundance

Noahpinion • 16764 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Campaign Economic Policy Climate Policy Energy Policy
  1. Biden should focus on a message of abundance in his campaign, highlighting the positive state of America and his policies that have contributed to it.
  2. Biden's energy policies, including embracing cheap solar and batteries, have brought abundance and climate stability, making them a crucial part of his message.
  3. Biden should run on his economic record, emphasizing the success of Bidenomics and the booming economy during his presidency compared to historical data.

How the oligarchy shrank America’s middle class (Why American capitalism is so rotten, Part 8)

Robert Reich • 19752 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Unions Economic Policy Income Inequality Corporate Governance
  1. The virtuous cycle of rising wages with productivity gains broke in the late 1970s, leading to stagnant incomes for most American workers.
  2. Corporate governance shifted in the 1980s, with a focus on maximizing shareholder returns, leading to massive job cuts and weakened worker bargaining power.
  3. Decline in union membership since the late 1970s has contributed to shrinking middle class as unions effectively negotiated better wages and benefits for workers.

Why Bidenomics will get Joe another term and give the Democrats control over Congress

Robert Reich • 24391 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Legislation Political parties Labor Unions
  1. Bidenomics is proving to be successful in boosting the economy and lowering inflation.
  2. The Biden administration is focused on restructuring the economy to benefit the bottom 90 percent.
  3. Bidenomics could lead to shared prosperity, potentially securing another term for Biden and control of Congress for Democrats.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Washington's $300 billion dilemma

The Dossier • 303 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Foreign Relations Sanctions Economic Policy Global Economy International Law
  1. Western powers imposed sanctions on Russia by freezing $300 billion of Russian assets in the US and Europe, aiming to weaken the Russian economy, but the impact on the Russian war effort has been limited.
  2. The idea of seizing Russia's frozen $300 billion stash is being considered by the Biden Administration and Congress as a punitive measure, but legalizing such action through Congress is required.
  3. Seizing the $300 billion would be an unprecedented event with potential far-reaching consequences, including implications on the U.S. dollar's status as a global reserve currency and market signals about its stability.

The Women Who Support Trump, DeSantis' Insanity Just Got Worse, Fewer Kids Going to College, The Right Boycotting Chick-fil-A, a Cop’s First 45 Words Tell You If You're in Danger, Johnny Mathis Sings

kareem • 6210 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Election Women's Rights Sexual Assault Economic Policy Political Ideology
  1. Some women who support Trump overlook his sexual misconduct allegations.
  2. The reasons given for women supporting Trump may lack logical reasoning.
  3. Supporting a leader solely for economic reasons, despite moral concerns, can have significant consequences.

Debating China's Industrial Policy + Jordan in London

ChinaTalk • 592 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Industrial Policy Economic Policy
  1. Industrial policy in China is a contentious issue, with supporters believing in state intervention for progress and critics arguing for a free market approach.
  2. The debate between economists Lin and Zhang reflects the tension in China's economic thinking on the role of the government versus the market.
  3. Xi Jinping's industrial policies are shaped by the Party's political will to surpass the West in GDP and technology, balancing between state intervention and market forces.

What's Art Got to Do with It?

System Change • 491 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
💰 Finance Inflation China Economic Policy
  1. The art market is experiencing deflation as buyers prioritize debt repayment over new purchases.
  2. Debt deflation and low wages worldwide are driving the fall in prices of goods, services, and assets.
  3. China's economy, as the world's second largest, plays a significant role in global deflationary pressures and may require a drastic shift in economic policy to avoid a crash.

I Want Whatever the BLS is Smoking

startupdreams • 105 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Government Agencies Statistics Job Market
  1. BLS job numbers are consistently revised downward after initial high estimates, indicating potential inaccuracies in reporting.
  2. Comparison between BLS and ADP job reports show contrasting trends in new job creation, causing skepticism in the accuracy of BLS data.
  3. Analysis of full-time and part-time job numbers over a year reveals concerning trends, like growth in part-time jobs rather than full-time jobs.

The True Shape of America's Debt & Deficit "Burdens"

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 261 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Government spending National Debt Political Economy
  1. Debt-to-GDP ratio in the U.S. has fluctuated over the years, with significant changes under different administrations.
  2. The U.S. could manage its debt by matching program spending to taxes in the future, allowing it to gradually diminish.
  3. The current U.S. deficit is a concern as it exceeds the optimal level, posing a risk for the future due to political and economic factors.

President

Venture Prose • 539 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics International relations Economic Policy
  1. Being a president comes with immense challenges like managing debt, dealing with administrative issues, and navigating societal tensions.
  2. To make a country like France attractive, competitive, and profitable, leaders need to focus on positive impact, simplicity in implementation, and clear accountability.
  3. France has the potential to excel in areas like nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and education, but effective automation and addressing system abuse are essential for profitability.

Politburo meeting, no announcement of Third Plenum; Li Shangfu missing from study session; Evergrande chairman under "control"; TikTok

Sinocism • 766 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics International relations Economic Policy Government Foreign Policy Social Impact
  1. The Politburo meeting did not announce the dates for the Third Plenum, raising speculation about possible delays or disagreements.
  2. During the Politburo Study Session on WTO reform, key officials were absent, indicating potential areas of concern.
  3. Evergrande's chairman being placed under police surveillance raises doubts about the company's ability to avoid liquidation, impacting other struggling real estate firms.

Our "Leaders" have one skill: Breaking Things and Lying about it

cryptoeconomy • 1022 implied HN points • 17 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Government actions
  1. Government leaders are not always honest, especially about economic issues like inflation and the state of the economy.
  2. Policymakers often lie to manipulate public perception and create a false sense of economic stability.
  3. To address dishonesty and mismanagement, consider removing central planners and government control in economic matters.

The Slow Death of AC Transit

The Discourse Lounge • 531 implied HN points • 07 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Public Transportation Economic Policy Local Governance Environmental Impact
  1. AC Transit has faced a decline in ridership over the years due to funding cuts and neglect.
  2. Efforts are needed to increase funding for AC Transit and prioritize bus services over suburban rail projects.
  3. Long-term solutions include reforming funding priorities, restoring lost bus lines, and promoting public transportation over private shuttles.

DRAFT: How Can We Deal wiþ Zombie Neoliberal Ideas?

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 445 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Neoliberalism Economic Policy Government intervention Political Ideologies Historical Analysis
  1. The text discusses the persistence of neoliberal ideas despite criticism.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of industrial policy in addressing societal challenges.
  3. The comparison between the Western market-focused approach and the developmental states of East Asia is highlighted.

Fed Pivots to More Hikes, More Pain

cryptoeconomy • 648 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
💰 Finance Economic Policy Monetary Policy Inflation Banking Investing
  1. The Federal Reserve is planning more interest rate hikes and tightening measures, signaling potential economic pain.
  2. Despite initial expectations of a pause in rate hikes due to economic impacts not yet fully realized, Fed Governor Waller is advocating for further hikes to curb inflation.
  3. Quantitative Tightening, the reversal of money printing, may be the next step for the Fed despite past failures, raising concerns of potential economic disruptions and widespread impacts.

March 11, 2024 (Monday)

Letters from an American • 11 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Relations National Security Legislation Economic Policy
  1. Authoritarian prime minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary visited former president Trump in Florida, expressing support for stopping aid to Ukraine, even as U.S. officials stress its importance.
  2. President Biden's proposed budget for 2025 includes funding for Ukraine, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans' benefits, with an aim to reduce the deficit by taxing the wealthy and corporations.
  3. Historical analogies from FDR's era underscore the significance of providing aid to allies, as seen in the Lend-Lease Act during World War II, highlighting the critical nature of supporting democratic nations against dictatorships.

Ukraine's Zelensky sends love letter to US corporations, promising 'big business' for Wall Street

Geopolitical Economy Report • 438 implied HN points • 25 Jan 23
🌍 World Politics Neoliberalism Foreign Relations Corporate Influence Economic Policy International Trade
  1. Ukrainian president Zelensky is actively seeking investment from US corporations like BlackRock, JP Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, encouraging them to do business in Ukraine.
  2. Zelensky's government has implemented aggressive anti-worker policies, limiting union rights and encouraging a pro-corporate environment.
  3. Western governments and corporations are planning aggressive neoliberal reforms for Ukraine, aiming to privatize and deregulate industries with the help of powerful entities like BlackRock.

The Race to Win the Industrial Revolution

Material World • 218 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
💼 Business Green Technology Economic Policy Manufacturing Subsidies
  1. A small company in northern Britain, AMTE, has a significant history in battery technology development.
  2. The US Inflation Reduction Act offers hefty subsidies for manufacturers, causing companies like AMTE to consider relocating production.
  3. The UK faces a challenge in determining its industrial strategy amidst global competition in green technology subsidies.

EU confesses 'our prosperity was based on China & Russia': cheap energy, low-paid labor, big market

Geopolitical Economy Report • 398 implied HN points • 20 Oct 22
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Economic Policy Security International relations
  1. European prosperity relied on cheap energy from Russia and China's market
  2. EU is facing a crisis due to increased cost of living and competitiveness in global markets
  3. Europe acknowledges a shift away from US security and towards becoming dependent on US energy

Japan Reality Check #5: Are start-ups and VC a good investment in Japan?

Japan Optimist • 176 implied HN points • 25 Mar 23
💼 Business Investing Venture Capital Start-ups Economic Policy Entrepreneurship
  1. Japan's start-ups and venture capital outperform global peers with a 18% net IRR per year in the decade before COVID.
  2. Japan's venture capital ecosystem attracts top talent and continues to grow, showing a 7% outperformance over TOPIX.
  3. Japan's government actively supports entrepreneurship and innovation, aiming to create '100 Unicorns by 2027' through public-private partnerships and deregulation.

王向偉：重振經濟--多研究些問題 少談些主義

Wang Xiangwei's Thought of the Day on China • 157 implied HN points • 11 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Economic Policy Foreign Relations Leadership Human Rights Reform
  1. China's economy is facing challenges but leaders are committed to opening up and revitalizing it.
  2. The role of private businesses and foreign companies is crucial for China's economic growth.
  3. Efforts are being made to address concerns of entrepreneurs and improve the legal and investment environment in China.

Zelensky is literally selling Ukraine to US corporations on Wall Street

Geopolitical Economy Report • 219 implied HN points • 09 Sep 22
🌍 World Politics Foreign Relations Neoliberalism Economic Policy
  1. Ukraine's President Zelensky is opening up the country to US corporations on Wall Street for exploitation through a selloff program.
  2. Zelensky invited foreign corporations to invest billions in the country's projects, emphasizing economic opportunities.
  3. Critics liken Zelensky's actions to extreme neoliberal policies, highlighting concerns over labor rights and economic inequality.

One Month In

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 9 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Economic Policy
  1. The new President has focused on shock therapy, deregulation, and an omnibus bill to tackle multiple fields.
  2. The government has implemented fiscal and monetary measures in response to urgent economic issues.
  3. The Milei/Caputo Plan is an emergency adjustment plan lacking a clear nominal anchor for long-term economic stability.