On Investing

The Role of the Fed in a Shifting Economy (With Pat Harker)

Oct 17, 2025
Pat Harker, former president of the Philadelphia Fed and current Penn Wharton professor, delves into pressing economic challenges, including the impact of the government shutdown on monetary data. He highlights the importance of private-sector data as complements to traditional stats. Harker also warns of risks to Fed independence amid political pressures and discusses balancing inflation with labor market needs. He shares insights from his tenure, emphasizing pragmatic policymaking and potential solutions for long-term debt challenges.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Markets Taking Shutdown In Stride

  • Markets have largely shrugged off the shutdown so far, supported by expectations of Fed easing and solid GDP revisions.
  • Prolonged data gaps from the shutdown could increase market pressure, especially if key reports like October payrolls are missed.
INSIGHT

Earnings Focus: Tariffs, Margins, AI

  • Corporate earnings early in the season show more than 9% blended growth so far, but tariff commentary will be key for margins.
  • Watch AI-related productivity claims and whether companies signal pass-through of higher costs to consumers.
INSIGHT

Labor Constraints Are A Global Drag

  • Slower immigration and aging are weighing on labor supply and potential GDP globally, not just in the U.S.
  • A productivity surge from technologies like AI could offset labor constraints but is uncertain.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app