Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

“When Tariffs Hit Home”

1. “When Tariffs Hit Home”

The discussion centers on rising tariffs, their impact on prices, business strategies, household budgets, and the resulting policy uncertainty in trade relations.

Moltbook is the newest social media platform — but it's just for AI bots

2. Moltbook is the newest social media platform — but it's just for AI bots

A new platform for AI bots raises intriguing discussions and existential inquiries regarding the nature and experiences of artificial intelligence.

Winter 2026 Journal of Economic Perspectives Freely Available Online

3. Winter 2026 Journal of Economic Perspectives Freely Available Online

Timothy Taylor discusses the availability of the Winter 2026 issue of the Journal of Economic Perspectives and highlights key articles on global fertility rates.

Private Employment Growth at a Crawl, Small Firms Gain, Manufacturing Down

4. Private Employment Growth at a Crawl, Small Firms Gain, Manufacturing Down

Menzie Chinn discusses slow private employment growth, the rise of small firms, and a decline in manufacturing jobs in the labor market.

Profiles in Cowardice, Tariff Edition

5. Profiles in Cowardice, Tariff Edition

Paul Krugman discusses Trump's use of tariffs for personal power and the Supreme Court's reluctance to rule against them, highlighting political implications over economic rationale.

Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post'

6. Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post'

David Folkenflik discusses the significant job cuts at The Washington Post ordered by Jeff Bezos, focusing on the paper's shift towards politics and national security.

Closing out tabs

7. Closing out tabs

Scott Cunningham reflects on personal experiences, academic collaborations, and thoughts on technology, particularly AI, while sharing insights on various topics and people in his life.

The economics of hip hop

8. The economics of hip hop

Tyler Cowen discusses his research on hip hop's impact, analyzing data on its diffusion and effects on crime, education, and employment outcomes across the U.S.

Trump grants tariff breaks to 'politically connected' companies, Senate Dems say

9. Trump grants tariff breaks to 'politically connected' companies, Senate Dems say

Maria Aspan discusses how Trump’s tariff breaks favor politically connected companies, raising concerns about corruption in trade policy.

You owe it to yourself to go on a solo trip. Here's how to plan one

10. You owe it to yourself to go on a solo trip. Here's how to plan one

The post discusses the benefits of solo travel and provides tips for planning a successful trip based on travelers' experiences.

More Tough Times for US Agriculture?

11. More Tough Times for US Agriculture?

An argument that U.S. agriculture faces severe challenges due to rising costs, market disruptions, and declining farmer sentiment, leading to increased bankruptcies and poor investment outlook.

When Social Security Went Haywire in the 1970s

12. When Social Security Went Haywire in the 1970s

The post examines the significant increase in Social Security replacement rates during the 1970s and its implications for future reforms and financial stability.

China bans hidden car door handles, a design popularized by Tesla

13. China bans hidden car door handles, a design popularized by Tesla

New regulations in China mandate manual car door handles to prevent potential hazards during crashes, addressing safety concerns related to electric mechanisms.

Disney names Josh D'Amaro as its new CEO

14. Disney names Josh D'Amaro as its new CEO

The post discusses Josh D'Amaro's appointment as CEO of Disney, succeeding Bob Iger after nearly twenty years of leadership.

Tuesday's Assorted Links

15. Tuesday's Assorted Links

The post highlights various stories illustrating economic principles, including trade deficits, consumer behavior, and informal property rights in a unique context.

Back seats aren't as safe as they should be. A crash test is trying to help

16. Back seats aren't as safe as they should be. A crash test is trying to help

Camila Domonoske discusses the safety issues of back seats in vehicles and efforts by a safety group to improve them through crash testing.

Claude Code Part 13: Skills and the Split-PDF Workflow

17. Claude Code Part 13: Skills and the Split-PDF Workflow

The post introduces "skills" in Claude Code, explaining their practical applications for quantitative social scientists and how they enhance productivity in academic work.

American Democracy Will Not Die in Darkness

18. American Democracy Will Not Die in Darkness

Paul Krugman discusses the rise of authoritarianism in America, the backlash against it, and the implications for democracy and political resistance.

PepsiCo will cut prices on Lay's, Cheetos by as much as 15%

19. PepsiCo will cut prices on Lay's, Cheetos by as much as 15%

A major food company plans to reduce prices on popular snack brands due to declining consumer spending amid ongoing inflation concerns.

Paris prosecutors raid X offices as part of investigation into child abuse images

20. Paris prosecutors raid X offices as part of investigation into child abuse images

Prosecutors conducted a raid on X's offices amid an investigation into allegations of distributing child abuse images and deepfakes, summoning Elon Musk for questioning.