Policy Topics

Economics and finance

Showing 121 - 150 of 1772 results
News

Stevenson and 200+ economists urge Congress to raise debt limit

Mar 5, 2023
As the United States heads toward its debt-ceiling deadline, political leaders are posturing as they struggle to find a compromise to prevent default. In response, over 200 U.S. economists, including Professor Betsey Stevenson, sent a letter to...
News

Wolfers breaks down tooth fairy economics

Mar 5, 2023
The average amount the Tooth Fairy gives children has jumped by 16%, to $6.23. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, discussed the economics behind the rise.  "The children of America are getting what their parents are not:...
In the Media

Stevenson on jobs report timing

Mar 3, 2023 NPR Marketplace
Betsey Stevenson, NPR Marketplace: "This is one of those things where we all have rules of thumb, because they’re just easier to remember. So the first Friday of the month is way easier to remember than the actual...
News

Wolfers optimistic about soft landing for economy

Feb 17, 2023
As concerns about the economy continue, one economist is optimistic. Justin Wolfers, professor of public policy and economics, recently talked with NPR to discuss his economic analysis and predictions. "You're talking to an economist who is going...
In the Media

Hanson discusses state of inflation

Feb 14, 2023 Wallet Hub
Jonathan Hanson, Wallet Hub: "The point of interest rate increases is to slow down the economy and thus cool demand. Pressure on prices thus falls. It’s effective for controlling the rate of inflation but does not come without some pain. I think the...
In the Media

Stevenson analyzes inflationary pressure

Feb 11, 2023 The New Yorker
Betsey Stevenson, The New Yorker: "People always hate inflation. Even when inflation was at historic lows, survey data showed that eighty-three percent of Americans thought inflation was a problem. The President has very few levers. And, in this...
In the Media

Wolfers celebrates low unemployment rate

Feb 10, 2023 NPR
Justin Wolfers, NPR: "We're celebrating unemployment being at a 50-year low. This is only three years after the scariest economic moment of my lifetime. If you had said in three short years we'll yield an unemployment rate that earlier generations...
In the Media

Stevenson discusses strong labor market

Feb 9, 2023 NPR Marketplace
Betsey Stevenson, NPR Marketplace: "Are employers trying to hire a bunch of phantoms — people who don’t exist? Are they just finding it too hard to find...
In the Media

Ciorciari on dangers of Pakistan's economic crisis

Feb 9, 2023 VOA News
John Ciorciari, VOA News: "Pakistan is on the brink of economic collapse. If the crisis continues, the government may soon face considerable added unrest and exacerbate domestic social conflict. This could destabilize the government in a country...
In the Media

Stevenson breaks down what's actually happening in the job market

Feb 9, 2023 The Wall Street Journal
Betsey Stevenson, The Wall Street Journal: "Since restaurants and hotels haven’t staffed up too much, they could avoid the fate of many tech companies that are laying off workers after overhiring earlier in the pandemic," said Betsey Stevenson, an...
News

Wolfers optimistic on inflation and recession risks

Feb 8, 2023
The U.S. economic recovery from the significant setbacks of the pandemic has seen inflationary pressure from supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine, among other factors. Justin Wolfers, Ford School professor of public policy and...
Publication

Stevenson provides lessons, advice for 118th Congress

Feb 6, 2023
As the 118th Congress begins, Americans’ trust in Congress and government is at an all-time low. Economist Betsey Stevenson lends her expertise to members of Congress in a new article for the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. First, Stevenson says,...
In the Media

Stevenson discusses trade-offs of inflation

Feb 5, 2023 NPR
Betsey Stevenson, NPR: "The thing about inflation is it hurts us all a little 'cause it's terrible, right? You go to the store, and we're all talking about the price of eggs. We feel it. We feel rents going up and food prices going up, but, you...
In the Media

Is the economy good? Wolfers says yes

Feb 3, 2023 Vox
Justin Wolfers, Vox: "If you want a dramatic one-word answer, the answer is yes. Unemployment’s at a 50-year low, that’s the standard metric for thinking about how the economy is performing. Job growth is continuing, so it’s not only good, it’s...
In the Media

Job creation is 'unimaginably positive' - Wolfers

Feb 3, 2023 Michigan Radio
Justin Wolfers, Michigan Radio: "The U.S. economy is now creating jobs at a rate that is unimaginably positive. 2022 was the second fastest rate of job creation in American...
In the Media

Stevenson breaks down latest jobs report with The New York Times

Feb 3, 2023 New York Times
Betsey Stevenson, New York Times: "Basically, the hesitation and confusion that I think made it harder for employers and workers to find each other in the early parts of the recovery has started to abate. People are applying for jobs, and employers...
In the Media

Stevenson discusses latest jobs report

Feb 3, 2023 Bloomberg
Betsey Stevenson, Bloomberg: "The truth is, this is a great number, 517,000 jobs, but there's a lot of room for error in this report. And if I was a betting woman, I would tell you that we'll probably see this corrected down a little bit. So I think...
In the Media

Stevenson on decreasing job churn and what it means for the economy

Feb 1, 2023 NPR Marketplace
Betsey Stevenson, NPR Marketplace: "I think it’s a reflection of an ongoing need to move back towards an economy that looks a little bit more like 2019. In terms of the mix of the types of goods and services that people buy." In other words, too...
News

Stevenson receives 2022 award for public engagement

Jan 31, 2023
President Santa J. Ono is honoring University of Michigan faculty members Betsey Stevenson and Lilia Cortina with the 2022 presidential awards for public engagement. The awards recognize the recipients’ demonstrated commitment to public service,...
In the Media

Stevenson explains tech layoffs

Jan 27, 2023 Yahoo! News
Betsey Stevenson, Yahoo! News: "They hired for magical thinking. So what they're having to do right now is readjust for reality. As you've already shown, the layoffs we're seeing here are small compared to not just the hiring they did during 2020...