201. Is China inventing big important things?
Noah Smith discusses China's technological advancements and innovation, contrasting it with historical powers while questioning the impact of autocracy on creativity and scientific progress.
202. Browbeating Trump’s Bete Noire into Submission via Trade War
Menzie Chinn critiques Trump's handling of trade policies and their implications for the economy and inflation.
203. GDPNow Assuming No Import Effects: Still Close to Stall Speed
Menzie Chinn analyzes GDP growth projections while excluding import effects, highlighting a near-stall growth rate for Q1 2025.
204. Review of the Strong Gods: Some Positive Notes
Kevin Corcoran discusses R. R. Reno's arguments about strong gods and their dual nature, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging their dangers alongside their potential benefits.
205. OPM alters memo about probationary employees but does not order mass firings reversed
Andrea Hsu discusses the OPM's revision of a memo regarding probationary employees and the lack of reinstatement for those previously fired.
206. High and Low Stress in the Workplace: A World War II Example
Conversable Economist discusses Oded Stark's analysis of stress management strategies in American and German fighter pilots during WWII and their impact on performance.
207. Soybeans (Again!)
Menzie Chinn discusses the predictive power of soybean futures prices and their relationship to spot prices, referencing previous research and statistical analysis.
208. Repeating a Historical Experience of Autarky?
Pierre Lemieux discusses historical autarky, particularly in China, and contrasts it with Western trade openness, highlighting economic implications of isolationist policies.
209. Tuesday's Assorted Links
The author discusses various stories highlighting economic principles and their applications, including housing supply, tariffs, and market competition.
210. The CFPB drops its case against payment app Zelle, in another sign of a Trump pivot
Laurel Wamsley discusses the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's decision to drop its case against Zelle, highlighting the influence of Trump appointees on the bureau's actions.
211. American businesses reel as Trump tariffs start to bite
Scott Horsley discusses the concerns of American business owners regarding the negative effects of President Trump's tariffs on imports.
212. Trump Hates Canada for its Decency
Paul Krugman discusses Trump's irrational tariffs on Canada and Mexico, suggesting they stem from personal animosity rather than economic rationale.
213. Heavy Truck Sales Decreased 9% YoY in February
Bill McBride discusses the decline in heavy truck sales in February, highlighting trends and historical data related to the trucking industry and economic indicators.
214. Regime Uncertainty
Alex Tabarrok discusses how regime uncertainty affects investment decisions, highlighting historical examples and current implications of unpredictable policies on economic stability.
215. DOGE recession?
Claudia Sahm discusses the potential economic impact of DOGE on the U.S. economy, arguing it is unlikely to trigger a recession despite concerns about government layoffs.
216. U.S. stock markets plunge as Trump's tariffs spark fears about a trade war
Maria Aspan discusses the decline in U.S. stock markets due to concerns over Trump's tariffs and the potential for a global trade war.
217. Current UK stagnation may have many causes, but one we know about is the UK media. Plus why the UK definition of a recession is no longer fit for purpose.
The author discusses the inadequacy of the UK's recession definition and its implications for understanding economic stagnation, highlighting supply-side issues and productivity concerns.
218. Canada and China say the fentanyl crisis is only a 'pretext' for Trump's new tariffs
Brian Mann discusses how Canadian and Chinese officials view the fentanyl crisis as a pretext for U.S. tariffs, emphasizing their efforts to combat fentanyl smuggling.
219. Lawler: Federal Reserve Earnings Still Running Negative; No Remittances to Treasury for a While
Tom Lawler discusses the Federal Reserve's negative earnings and the implications for remittances to the Treasury due to rising interest rates.
220. Trade War w/Canada, Mexico
Menzie Chinn discusses the implications and effects of the trade war between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico on economic relations and trade policies.