Unpredictability of Recession Forecasts and Economic Resilience

Today’s show is about what I consider the biggest mystery of the U.S. economy. Last year, economic experts predicted a recession in 2023 with more confidence than they’ve predicted any recession in decades. We ended up with what some people are calling immaculate disinflation: an economy with low unemployment, falling inflation, rising real wages, and narrowing inequality. Harvard economist Jason Furman joins the show to talk about why so many economists were so wrong and what their wrongness teaches us about how the economy works.

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. 

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Jason Furman

Producer: Devon Manze

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