Econ Blog

your daily dose of economic commentary

4 things to know about Trump's plan for a 'crypto strategic reserve'

3321. 4 things to know about Trump's plan for a 'crypto strategic reserve'

Juliana Kim discusses President Trump's vision for a federal strategic reserve to position the U.S. as a leader in the cryptocurrency industry.

Was this Kuznets Idea “Stupid”?

3322. Was this Kuznets Idea “Stupid”?

David Henderson discusses Simon Kuznets' perspective on excluding government spending from GDP, contrasting it with Greg Mankiw's criticism of the idea.

Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

3323. Can the Federal Reserve stay independent?

Wailin Wong discusses President Trump's executive orders and their implications for the Federal Reserve's independence and interest rate control.

The Inversion Continues

3324. The Inversion Continues

Menzie Chinn discusses the implications of current Treasury yield curves and VIX levels on economic growth forecasts.

Debt Risks Rising for Low- and Middle-income Countries

3325. Debt Risks Rising for Low- and Middle-income Countries

Conversable Economist discusses the rising debt risks for low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the imbalance in capital flows and increasing debt servicing costs.

Have Nowcasts and Forecasts Ever Dropped so Quickly When Not about to Go into a Recession?

3326. Have Nowcasts and Forecasts Ever Dropped so Quickly When Not about to Go into a Recession?

Menzie Chinn discusses the recent decline in economic nowcasts and forecasts, attributing it to trade balance changes and potential tariff impacts.

New tariffs drive fears of rising car prices in the U.S.

3327. New tariffs drive fears of rising car prices in the U.S.

Camila Domonoske discusses how new tariffs may significantly increase car prices in the U.S. due to government policy changes.

Vehicles Sales Increase to 16.00 million SAAR in February

3328. Vehicles Sales Increase to 16.00 million SAAR in February

Bill McBride discusses the increase in U.S. light vehicle sales in February, highlighting trends in affordability and market segments.

A sovereign crypto fund is a new way to pay out regime cronies

3329. A sovereign crypto fund is a new way to pay out regime cronies

Noah Smith discusses how a proposed U.S. crypto fund could enable government leaders to distribute public funds to favored individuals, raising concerns about economic implications.

SBSQ #18: Will wokeness bounce back?

3330. SBSQ #18: Will wokeness bounce back?

Nate Silver discusses upcoming projects, subscriber questions, and the potential resurgence of wokeness in society.

Trump says 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will go ahead

3331. Trump says 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will go ahead

Asma Khalid discusses Trump's decision to implement 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and its impact on markets.

Canada and China retaliate after Trump's tariffs take effect

3332. Canada and China retaliate after Trump's tariffs take effect

Asma Khalid discusses Canada's and China's responses to Trump's tariffs, highlighting concerns about a potential global trade war and its impact on international markets.

Some further thoughts on housing

3333. Some further thoughts on housing

Scott Sumner discusses housing market dynamics, investment returns, and the impact of state policies on migration patterns related to housing prices.

Mixtape Mailbag: Staggered Adoption and Combining Synthetic Controls

3334. Mixtape Mailbag: Staggered Adoption and Combining Synthetic Controls

Scott Cunningham discusses the use of synthetic control methods in policy evaluation, particularly regarding staggered adoption and extrapolating effects to untreated units.

Kroger CEO resigns abruptly after 'personal conduct' investigation

3335. Kroger CEO resigns abruptly after 'personal conduct' investigation

Alina Selyukh reports on the sudden resignation of Kroger's CEO Rodney McMullen following an investigation into personal conduct.

Stripe’s Annual Letter

3336. Stripe’s Annual Letter

Alex Tabarrok discusses Stripe's insights on economic trends, AI's impact on industries, and the significance of stablecoins in enhancing financial systems.

The Economic Blackout Probably Did More Harm Than Good

3337. The Economic Blackout Probably Did More Harm Than Good

Jadrian Wooten argues that the Economic Blackout likely harmed low-wage workers more than it affected large corporations, highlighting the disconnect between intention and outcome.

It’s Up to Europe Now

3338. It’s Up to Europe Now

Paul Krugman discusses the historical context of European support for democracy and parallels it with the current situation in Ukraine, emphasizing Europe's responsibility to aid Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Construction Spending Decreased 0.2% in January

3339. Construction Spending Decreased 0.2% in January

Bill McBride discusses a 0.2% decrease in construction spending in January 2025, highlighting trends in private and public construction investments.

Housing March 3rd Weekly Update: Inventory down 0.1% Week-over-week, Up 28.3% Year-over-year

3340. Housing March 3rd Weekly Update: Inventory down 0.1% Week-over-week, Up 28.3% Year-over-year

Calculated Risk analyzes recent trends in housing inventory, noting a slight week-over-week decrease but a significant year-over-year increase.