Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

3121. Mistaken Identities: The International Trade Version

Timothy Taylor discusses misconceptions in US political discourse regarding trade deficits and their impact on the economy, emphasizing the importance of understanding GDP accounting identities.

Tesla, led by Elon Musk, warns of export retaliation due to new Trump tariffs

3122. Tesla, led by Elon Musk, warns of export retaliation due to new Trump tariffs

Alana Wise discusses Tesla's concerns about potential negative impacts on global sales due to Trump's new tariff policies.

Prices for Ordinary Folk: February and the Future

3123. Prices for Ordinary Folk: February and the Future

Menzie Chinn analyzes grocery and shelter prices, comparing different economic indices to assess the financial situation of average households.

How popular is Donald Trump?

3124. How popular is Donald Trump?

Nate Silver discusses Donald Trump's approval ratings, noting his current popularity compared to his first term and the factors influencing these trends.

Trump says the economy is in 'transition.' What comes after?

3125. Trump says the economy is in 'transition.' What comes after?

The post discusses Trump's characterization of the economy as transitioning, contrasting his optimism with skepticism from economists regarding the impact of tariffs.

March 14th COVID Update: COVID Deaths Declining

3126. March 14th COVID Update: COVID Deaths Declining

Bill McBride discusses the decline in COVID deaths and the implications for future reporting and metrics.

How Tupperware took over our homes, with Decoder Ring

3127. How Tupperware took over our homes, with Decoder Ring

The post explores Tupperware's rise and fall, highlighting its innovative sales strategy and lasting impact on modern marketing techniques.

Wisconsin Employment and Forecasts

3128. Wisconsin Employment and Forecasts

Employment figures and economic forecasts for Wisconsin are analyzed, highlighting their implications for overall economic activity and GDP projections.

The Conservative Cruel Kids

3129. The Conservative Cruel Kids

Marcos Falcone critiques the left's use of the term 'cruel' to describe political opponents, arguing that their policies often lead to economic harm and injustice.

China’s Deflation: Made in the USA

3130. China’s Deflation: Made in the USA

An argument that China's deflation stems from tight monetary policy linked to the US dollar, rather than domestic issues, which the media often overlooks.

Averages, Margins, and Memes

3131. Averages, Margins, and Memes

Kevin Corcoran discusses the importance of understanding marginal decisions in economics through relatable examples, emphasizing clarity over complex mathematical explanations.

FTC asks to delay Amazon trial over 'dire' resources, then quickly backtracks

3132. FTC asks to delay Amazon trial over 'dire' resources, then quickly backtracks

A federal lawyer's claim about the FTC's resource crisis in its Amazon lawsuit was quickly retracted, highlighting internal challenges within the agency.

Q1 GDP Tracking: Wide Range

3133. Q1 GDP Tracking: Wide Range

The post discusses various GDP tracking estimates for Q1, highlighting adjustments due to trade deficits and the impact of gold imports on growth forecasts.

Everybody Hates Elon

3134. Everybody Hates Elon

Paul Krugman discusses the unexpected negative economic and consumer sentiment following Trump's 2024 election, highlighting the impact of his policies and Elon Musk's influence.

Silver Bulletin College Basketball (SBCB) ratings 🏀

3135. Silver Bulletin College Basketball (SBCB) ratings 🏀

Nate Silver discusses the Silver Bulletin College Basketball ratings, detailing their methodology and updates on team performances as the season progresses.

China is trying to kneecap Indian manufacturing

3136. China is trying to kneecap Indian manufacturing

Noah Smith discusses China's shift from attracting foreign investment to becoming a source of investment by building factories abroad, impacting global supply chains.

Dorothy Thompson: The journalist who warned us about Hitler

3137. Dorothy Thompson: The journalist who warned us about Hitler

An argument that highlights Dorothy Thompson's insights and warnings about the dangers of Nazi Germany during her career as a journalist and broadcaster.

Why CEOs are calm about tariffs in public — but 'very discouraged' in private

3138. Why CEOs are calm about tariffs in public — but 'very discouraged' in private

Business leaders publicly downplay concerns about tariffs while privately expressing significant discouragement regarding their potential impact on market stability.

Southwest surprises, tariff guac shock, and fraud flourishes

3139. Southwest surprises, tariff guac shock, and fraud flourishes

Darian Woods discusses Southwest Airlines' policy changes, rising fraud rates, and Americans' demand for avocados in this week's economic indicators.

Guest Contribution: “Steeling losses: sectoral strains from the return of tariffs on steel and aluminium”

3140. Guest Contribution: “Steeling losses: sectoral strains from the return of tariffs on steel and aluminium”

An argument that reinstating tariffs on steel and aluminium will significantly impact trade, production, and consumer welfare in the US and its trading partners.