EconoFact Chats

While it is often thought that adolescence begins and ends with puberty, new research shows that the development of cognitive skills, emotional development, and social skills that starts in the early teen years continues into the mid-twenties. In her new book 'Thrive,' Lisa Lawson, President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, points out that failure to build on investments throughout this longer period of adolescence can result in missed mental and emotional growth, leaving young people less well equipped to lead independent, successful lives. Lisa joins EconoFact Chats to discuss her new book, and highlight how fam­i­lies, com­mu­ni­ties and pub­lic sys­tems can support programs and policies that build strong, resilient young people.

This week, EconoFact Chats features an abridged version of an EconoFact Ask Me Anything Webinar held on September 17th featuring Tara Watson, Director of the Center for Economic Security and Opportunity at the Brookings Institution. The AMA focused on the role of immigrants in the U.S. labor force, the extent and types of deportations seen currently, the economic effects of stepped-up immigration enforcement, and the availability of reliable immigration and deportation data. Tara is the John C. and Nancy D. Whitehead Chair, and a Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at Brookings. Her most recent book is 'The Border Within: The Economics of Immigration in an Age of Fear.'   EconoFact’s monthly Ask Me Anything Webinars are exclusively available to our Premium Subscribers. The modest $50 annual fee for becoming a Premium Subscriber supports EconoFact and its efforts to bring timely, accessible, unbiased, and nonpartisan analyses on important economic and social policy issues to the public. You can sign-up for a Premium Subscription at https://secure.touchnet.net/C21525_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=157

In a new article in Foreign Affairs, 'The New Economic Geography: Who Profits in a Post-American World?,' Adam Posen, the President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, argues that the policies and institutions the US has helped put in place over the past eight decades have not only bolstered its own economic fortunes, but have helped much of the world thrive. Adam joins EconoFact Chats to discuss the article, and point out how the Trump administration's pursuit of an America first policy could render the US, and much of the world, less economically stable. He also discusses who might benefit from America's retreat from global leadership.

The post-war international economic order was based on two fundamental pillars: American leadership and multilateralism. Both of those are, to some extent, under threat today. The United States is on a different path with respect to international economic relations, than had been the case over the past decades. Increasing tariffs are just one example of a reversal of prior efforts aimed at greater globalization and more economic integration. This reversal has not just occurred in the United States: Brexit stands as a prime example. What have been the forces driving a splintering in globalization? Are there historical precedents for this? What type of international economic regime is likely to emerge? Professor Jeffry Frieden joins EconoFact Chats to address these questions and discuss present and past linkages between domestic politics and international economics. Jeff is Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science at Columbia University, and Professor of Government emeritus at Harvard University. His teaching and research focus on the politics of international economic relations.

The Trump Administration claims tariffs will help protect American jobs, revitalize manufacturing, and raise revenues, while keeping prices stable. While it may be too soon to evaluate some of these expected outcomes, pioneering efforts by Alberto Cavallo in gathering real time price data on goods, distinguished by their country of origin, makes it possible to analyze how tariffs are affecting prices. Alberto joins EconoFact Chats to discuss who bears the cost increases from the tariffs, the role of policy uncertainty in companies’ pricing decisions, and the cumulative effects of tariffs on prices. Alberto is the Thomas S. Murphy Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He co-founded PriceStats, the leading private source of inflation statistics in over 20 countries.

Binyamin Applebaum of The New York Times, Larry Edelman of The Boston Globe, Scott Horsley of NPR, and Claire Jones, the US Economics Editor The Financial Times join EconoFact Chats for a wide ranging discussion on the U.S. economy, focusing on the weaker than expected jobs reports, high inflation, the importance of reliable government statistics, the independence of the Federal Reserve, immigration enforcement, demographic shifts, and continued tariff uncertainty.

Less than a year after The Economist labeled the U.S. economy the 'envy of the world,' concerns are arising from disappointing jobs reports, slowing GDP growth, and rising prices. In this EconoFact Chats episode, Mark Zandi notes that tariffs and a restrictive immigration policy are contributing to the likelihood of recession and inflation, although he discounts the possibility of a return to the severe stagflation of the 1970s. He also highlights the risks posed by a ballooning national debt. On a positive note, Mark notes the contributions of the AI boom to the economy. Mark is the Chief Economist of Moody’s Analytics. He serves on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and is the lead director of Reinvestment Fund, one of the nation’s largest community development financial institutions.

This week, EconoFact Chats features an abridged version of an Ask Me Anything Webinar held on July 17th, 2025, with Michael Strain, Director of Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. The discussion focused on how populist diagnoses of social and economic issues often assume an unhelpful zero sum mindset, leading to poor policy proposals, and on how 'forcing events' can expand the bounds of what is a politically feasible solution. Michael's latest book is 'The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It).' EconoFact’s monthly Ask Me Anything Webinars are exclusively available to our Premium Subscribers. The modest $50 annual fee for becoming a Premium Subscriber supports EconoFact and its efforts to bring timely, accessible, unbiased, and nonpartisan analyses on important economic and social policy issues to the public. You can sign-up for a Premium Subscription at https://secure.touchnet.net/C21525_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=157

United States colleges and universities currently enrol about 900,000 international students, representing 5% of all students – although the percentage of foreign students varies widely across institutions. Many colleges and universities would be hurt by policies that limit the number of foreign students. The detrimental effects of these policies extend beyond institutions of higher education to local economies, companies that hire engineers, scientists, and programmers, and to the dynamism of the U.S. economy since immigrants educated in this country are vastly overrepresented as entrepreneurs. Furthermore, American higher education serves as an important source of soft power that bolsters America’s standing in the world. Arguments have been made about foreign students endangering national security and taking the places of American students. How should we weigh these concerns against the benefits of foreign students who represent an import export of services for this country? Nathan Grawe joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these questions. Nathan is the Lloyd P. Johnson-Norwest Professor of Economics at Carleton College. His most recent book is 'The Agile College: How Institutions Successfully Navigate Demographic Change.' Note: This podcast was first published on 15 June, 2025.

The U.S. dollar is the most widely used currency in global commerce. Many commodities are priced in dollars. Much of world trade in goods and services, as well as in financial instruments, is denominated in dollars, even when U.S. residents are not party to either side of the transaction. U.S. Treasury bonds have been the world’s safe-haven asset. Has the U.S. benefited from the dollar's role in international trade and finance? Is dollar dominance waning under current U.S. policies? If so, what are the likely consequences? Paul Blustein joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these issues. Paul is a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He is the author of 'King Dollar: The Past and Future of the World's Dominant Currency.' Note: This podcast was first published on 27 April, 2025.