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Bloomberg Talks

Brookings Institution's Ben Harris Talks State of the Economy

Oct 18, 2024
Ben Harris, Vice President at the Brookings Institution and former assistant treasury secretary, dives deep into the current state of the economy. He evaluates the tax proposals from presidential candidates, stressing their impact on national debt. The discussion also navigates economic policies shaped by inflation and a robust labor market, while pondering potential recessions. Additionally, Harris examines how immigration policy intersects with monetary strategies, shedding light on labor shortages and the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions.
08:38

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Tax proposals from candidates like Trump raise concerns over government revenue, echoing fiscal irresponsibility and potential national debt increases.
  • Kamala Harris's focus on housing and healthcare initiatives highlights a delicate balance between economic soundness and the risk of fueling inflation.

Deep dives

Impact of Tax Proposals on Government Funding

Current tax proposals from candidates like Donald Trump are raising concerns about their potential impact on government funding. Trump's suggestion to eliminate taxes for veterans and first responders adds to an already extensive list of tax breaks that could drastically reduce government revenue, with estimates suggesting a cost of about $10 trillion. Experts argue that many of these proposals lack economic justification and are unrealistic in their ability to pass through Congress. Moreover, these tax cuts echo a trend initiated in 2017, where fiscal responsibility has taken a backseat, leading to an increase in national debt.

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