Phil Suttle, founder of Suttle Economics and former senior executive at top financial institutions, shares valuable insights into macroeconomic trends. He discusses the potential economic policies under a new Trump administration, including the impact of tariffs and immigration on labor supply. Suttle analyzes US productivity recovery post-pandemic and the myths around deregulation. He also examines fiscal challenges and contrasting economic performances in Europe while addressing upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.
The potential return of Trump's protectionist policies, particularly increased tariffs, could elevate inflation and impact global economic growth.
Changes in immigration policy under Trump may stunt U.S. labor supply growth, leading to increased wage pressures and affecting economic performance.
Deep dives
Trump's Policy Predictions and Tariffs
The economic implications of Trump’s second term are explored through a framework predicting three scenarios: Trump at face value, Trump mild, and Trump aggressive. The scenario viewed as most plausible suggests a return to heightened protectionism, particularly an increase in tariffs which could be universally applied across countries. Trump's shift towards broader tariffs could significantly influence inflation in the U.S. as prices for imported goods rise, with historical references pointing to the infeasibility of relying solely on tariffs for public revenue. The anticipated tariffs could lead to increased domestic goods prices, which would add upward pressure on inflation rates while simultaneously straining global economic growth.
Labor Supply and Immigration
Changes in immigration policy under Trump are projected to greatly affect the U.S. labor market, potentially reversing the recent surge in labor supply that has supported economic growth. With predictions of reduced net immigration, labor supply growth may stall, leading to increased wage pressures, particularly at the lower end of the income spectrum. Trump's approach may include aggressive actions to limit immigration, although the actual implementation remains uncertain. This potential decline in labor supply could yield significant consequences for future U.S. economic performance and inflation dynamics, affecting the growth outlook for upcoming years.
Fiscal Policy and Government Spending
The confusion surrounding Trump’s fiscal policy stems from his simultaneous calls for fiscal prudence and increased spending amidst proposed tax cuts. Experts suggest that balancing these desires is unrealistic without making deep cuts to major spending programs, which are politically sensitive and unpopular. The prevailing outlook indicates that Trump may accelerate trends of reduced tax revenues while maintaining high expenditures, placing further strain on public finances. Consequently, the net impact of Trump's fiscal policies points towards a flat or declining fiscal thrust, diverging significantly from a potential Democratic agenda that would advocate for increased taxation and tightening measures.
Global Economic Perspectives
The global economic landscape, particularly concerning Europe and Japan, reveals a mixed bag of challenges and opportunities. In Europe, disparities in growth rates amongst member countries complicate the overall economic picture, while Germany faces significant issues stemming from its reliance on Russian energy. Meanwhile, Japan encounters long-standing structural issues, including stagnant growth and adverse demographics, even as its public finances show unexpected improvement. In China, a sluggish consumer market hampers prospects for rallying global growth, though there may be opportunities for recovery as the government addresses its property sector challenges.
Phil is the founder of Suttle Economics – a leading research consultancy. Before that, he held senior roles at Tudor, the Institute of International Finance (IIF), JP Morgan, Barclays, the New York Fed and World Bank. He was educated at Oxford University and lives in the US. In the podcast, we talk about how Trump 2.0 will impact macro, why tariffs matter, labour supply problems, and much more.