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US federal debt is currently almost as large as annual national income, something not seen before the pandemic. Expenditures like interest payments on the debt, military spending, and Social Security cannot be easily trimmed, and the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs act are likely to be extended, adding an estimated $5 trillion to the debt over the next decade. What are the likely consequences for the economy of rising debt? And how will this affect people's retirement, especially if there are cuts to Social Security? Wendy Edelberg and Ben Harris join EconoFact Chats to discuss these issues. Wendy is the director of the Hamilton Project and a Senior Fellow in Economic Studies at The Brookings Institution. She previously served as Chief Economist at the Congressional Budget Office. Ben is the Vice President and Director of Economic Studies at Brookings. He was Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy and Chief Economist at the Treasury Department in the Biden administration.
Before January, most Americans had probably never heard of the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), a Treasury Department agency that distributes payments from the federal government. But over the last month, this corner of government has appeared again and again in the headlines, as aides working with Elon Musk's quasi-governmental DOGE initiative successfully gained access to BFS's payment systems. After a flurry of litigation, a temporary restraining order now bars these aides from accessing data—but the crisis is not over. It's still not clear precisely what happened within BFS or what access political actors within the administration might gain in the future, and DOGE continues to access similarly sensitive systems in other agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.To understand what's happening, Senior Editor Quinta Jurecic spoke with Wendy Edelberg, Director of the Hamilton Project and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Jacob Leibenluft, who served in the Treasury Department and the Office of Management and Budget under the Biden administration. Why is it so alarming to have political appointees accessing BFS systems? What does this tell us about the administration's political goals? And what manner of crises could result from this kind of meddling? We value your feedback! Help us improve by sharing your thoughts at lawfaremedia.org/survey. Your input ensures that we deliver what matters most to you. Thank you for your support—and, as always, for listening!To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Inflation slowed in June! The Labor Department released its monthly consumer price index, a measure of costs of goods and services and a key metric for the Federal Reserve. Two economists, Wendy Edelberg of Brookings and Joe Lavorgna of SMBC Nikko Securities America, discuss what the better-than-expected numbers mean for the Fed's next interest rate cut. Head of Bank of America Institute Liz Everett Krisberg shares Bank of America's latest consumer checkpoint, which reveals a softening in credit card spending. Plus, it's a pivotal week for Democrats, whether they're supporting President Biden's bid for a second term, or not. Consistent backer Senator John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) discusses division in his party, as well as the Biden 2024 campaign. Plus, Apple reached a deal with EU regulators on its mobile payments network, and North American demand for Pepsi products has slowed down. Sen. John Fetterman - 15:41Liz Everett Krisberg - 28:25Wendy Edelberg & Joe Lavorgna - 35:43 In this episode:Sen. John Fetterman, @SenFettermanPAKelly Evans, @KellyCNBCJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie Kramer,@Kramer_Katie
The U.S. has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic's economic disruption with a strong economy, but a strong economy alone doesn't address all the challenges Americans face. As part of the Brookings Election '24 initiative, Wendy Edelberg talks about where the economy is doing better - increasing wages, decreasing inflation - and other areas where social policies can step in to fill the gaps on housing, child poverty, and more. Show notes and transcript: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-a-strong-economy-can-and-cant-fix Follow The Current and all Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.
Wendy Edelberg, senior fellow and director of The Hamilton Project at Brookings, discusses the positive impact of immigration on the dynamism and fiscal sustainability of the U.S. economy. She also explains her research on the impact immigrants have on local, state, and federal finances. As a whole, immigrants are a net benefit to the U.S. economy, but based largely on immigrants' education levels, the fiscal cost is disproportionately paid by certain state and local areas. Together with co-author Tara Watson, Edelberg proposes a way to redirect some of the federal gains to these communities, piggy-backing on existing programs. Show notes and transcript Dollar & Sense is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Learn more at brookings.edu/podcasts, and send feedback to podcasts@brookings.edu.
New numbers from the Census Bureau show the U.S. population is older than it's ever been, with the nation's median age over 38. William Brangham spoke with Philip Bump and Wendy Edelberg about how an older America could pose significant challenges for the economy, workforce and social programs in the years to come. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
New numbers from the Census Bureau show the U.S. population is older than it's ever been, with the nation's median age over 38. William Brangham spoke with Philip Bump and Wendy Edelberg about how an older America could pose significant challenges for the economy, workforce and social programs in the years to come. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
This week's theme on the Retirement Quick Tips Podcast is: Debt Ceiling 2023: What It Means For You Because I record these episodes at least a week before they're published, my hope is by the time you listen to this episode, the debt ceiling issue will be resolved with very little stress on the markets. That's my hope, but let's talk about 3 possible scenarios, since June 1st may come and go without a solution. There was a great article in the WSJ published on 5/20 that outlines 3 main scenarios for the debt ceiling standoff. If you want to read the article in more detail, I'll link to it in the show notes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/debt-ceiling-standoff-could-start-a-recession-but-default-would-be-worse-d536c3f3?st=po79c6mhgrpzzcv&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink 3 main scenarios: Last minute deal - best case scenario, they come to an agreement before June 1st. In this scenario, there should be little impact on financial markets, and perhaps a big jump in stocks this week if that happens and as markets breathe a sigh of relief Deal after deadline - this is what I think is the most likely scenario. June 1st comes and goes and there hasn't been a deal struck. Negotiations are contentious and power is divided, and this looks a lot like the debt ceiling debacle in 2011.if this happens, you'll likely see a severe reaction from the stock market. According to the WSJ: “If consumers' retirement and investment accounts suddenly shrink, they could sharply curtail their spending, the lifeblood of the U.S. economy. Businesses could pause hiring and investment plans.” Debt payments would have to be prioritized and you'll likely hear stories about veterans not getting their benefit checks on time or federal employees being furloughed. The government would have to prioritize their payments and would need to decide where to keep the lights on and where to stop paying the bills. No deal - Absolute worst case scenario. “There would be chaos in the global financial system” says Wendy Edelberg, an economist at the Brookings Institution. According to the WSJ: Missed payments would disrupt multitrillion-dollar global flows in short-term dollar borrowing, which are critical to how banks and companies fund operations. Investment funds, companies and banks all hold Treasurys. Their falling value would hammer balance sheets. Recent bank runs were sparked by falling values of Treasury debt, and the declines could be much steeper in a default. Analysts also say many investors would flee from risky assets of all sorts. The stock market would plummet 45% in the following months, and unemployment would shoot up by 5 percentage points, a White House report said. UBS said a month-long impasse would cause the economy to contract for four-straight quarters.” No deal is also political suicide for all involved, so while I don't think those in power at the top are especially competent, they do like being in power, so they'll at least be motivated to come to an agreement as the pressure mounts. That's it for today. Thanks for listening! My name is Ashley Micciche and this is the Retirement Quick Tips podcast. ---------- >>> Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: httpstr://apple.co/2DI2LSP >>> Subscribe on Amazon Alexa: https://amzn.to/2xRKrCs >>> Visit the podcast page: https://truenorthra.com/podcast/ ---------- Tags: retirement, investing, money, finance, financial planning, retirement planning, saving money, personal finance
Today's Macrocast is a special one! First, Ylan interviews Raphael Bostic, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, with whom she spoke earlier this week at the 2023 Federal Reserve Financial Markets Conference. The pair discuss how the Fed makes predictions and decisions to tackle economic crises. Bostic explains that the Fed has amended the way they survey the private sector, including engaging local business leaders early, in order to identify coming economic trends, like inflation and lay-offs. During the latter half of the episode, Ylan is joined by her co-hosts Brendan and John from Markets Policy Partners and Bryan DeAngelis, partner at Penta and host of What's at Stake, to recap this week's Macrocast Live panel discussion. The discussion featured Doug Holtz-Eakin, former Director of of the CBO and Chief Economist of the President's Council of Economic Advisers and current President of the American Action Forum, and Wendy Edelberg, former Chief Economist at the CBO and current Director of The Hamilton Project and Senior Fellow of Economic Study at the Brookings Institution who shared their predictions and perspectives on the debt ceiling, looming default, and more.
Wendy Edelberg from the Brookings Institution think tank joins to discuss the controversy about raising the debt limit, and what defaulting on the debt would mean for the market and American workers. Then, Capitol Reporter Colin Jackson explores what a new distracted driving bill would mean for Michigan drivers.
On today's Macrocast, Ylan and Brendan host Wendy Edelberg, director of the Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. They break down this morning's latest jobs day numbers, which signal an optimistic outlook for the labor market, even as the economy shows signs of cooling. On the flip side, the group warns of the impact of inflation expectations on wages as the Fed continues to hike interest rates. Plus, how will political dynamics affect market volatility amidst these shifting tides? Tune in to find out.Take a look at Penta's latest jobs day report here.
In addition to large fiscal packages, governments around the world utilized credit market interventions to support their economies during the pandemic. However, the impact and importance of these policies has not been fully analyzed. Gee Hee Hong of the IMF and Deborah Lucas of MIT approach this problem in their new BPEA paper, and they discuss their findings on this episode of the Brookings Podcast on Economic Activity with Wendy Edelberg of The Hamilton Project. Show notes and transcript: https://bit.ly/41oIDfA The Brookings Podcast on Economic Activity is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.
After the U.S. reached its debt limit last week, Secretary Janet Yellen announced that the Treasury will engage in extraordinary measure to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt, but it remains to be seen how and when Congress will take action. Brookings experts David Wessel, Bill Gale, Molly Reynolds, Wendy Edelberg explain the debt ceiling, the economic ramifications of default, and the politics of finding a solution. Transcript and show notes: https://www.brookings.edu/podcast-episode/whats-happening-with-the-debt-ceiling-again/
Washington Post reporter Jacob Bogage stops by to discuss why America is once again pressing against the Federal debt ceiling, and how Congress is responding to the issue. Then, Brookings Institute economist Wendy Edelberg joins the show to discuss all things debt ceiling including, how the federal debt limit works, why it's important to Americans, and whether it should even exist in the first place.
The U.S. is expected to bump into its borrowing limit in just a few days. The Treasury Department said it is taking "extraordinary measures" to allow the country to keep paying its debts for now, but Congress must vote to raise the debt ceiling. Wendy Edelberg of the Hamilton Project and Neil Bradley of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined Laura Barrón-López to discuss the concerns. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
The U.S. is expected to bump into its borrowing limit in just a few days. The Treasury Department said it is taking "extraordinary measures" to allow the country to keep paying its debts for now, but Congress must vote to raise the debt ceiling. Wendy Edelberg of the Hamilton Project and Neil Bradley of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined Laura Barrón-López to discuss the concerns. PBS NewsHour is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders
High inflation and glum sentiment are changing how people use their money. In this edition of The Exchange podcast, Brookings Institution economist Wendy Edelberg explains what shoppers are loath to give up during times of duress and why strange patterns will persist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The final episode of the Recession Remedies podcast sums up lessons learned from the COVID-19 downturn and looks ahead. How does rising inflation factor in to the assessment of the economic policy response? What lessons should, and should not, be taken from the pandemic to the next economic crisis? Host David Wessel is joined by Wendy Edelberg and Louise Sheiner. The three are senior fellows at Brookings and co-editors of the book “Recession Remedies: Lessons Learned from the U.S. Economic Policy Response to COVID-19.” Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3RA3zvL Recession Remedies podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu, and follow and tweet at @policypodcasts on Twitter.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed an extraordinary threat to the economy. In the U.S., the COVID-19 downturn was sharp, but the ensuing economic recovery was faster and stronger than nearly any forecaster anticipated. What was the effect of the economic policy response? Did it come with trade-offs? On the first episode of the Recession Remedies podcast, Jason Furman, Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard University, and Wendy Edelberg, senior fellow and director of The Hamilton Project at Brookings, join host David Wessel for an overview of the economic policy response and the lessons learned for future recessions. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/37E1gpv Recession Remedies podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu, and follow and tweet at @policypodcasts on Twitter.
This week on Facing the Future, excerpts from a recent panel discussion focusing on the national debt outlook and changing views on the role of government two years into the pandemic. Panelists are Brian Reidl of the Manhattan Institute and Wendy Edelberg of the Brookings Institution, moderated by award winning journalist and author Laura Knoy.
This week on Facing the Future, excerpts from a recent panel discussion focusing on the national debt outlook and changing views on the role of government two years into the pandemic. Panelists are Brian Reidl of the Manhattan Institute and Wendy Edelberg of the Brookings Institution, moderated by award-winning journalist and author Laura Knoy.
Masks and at-home COVID-19 test kits have become staples of pandemic life. The Biden Administration announced in January that it would distribute 400 million free N95 respirators to pharmacies and grocery stores around the country. The U.S. Postal Service has begun taking orders for free at-home test kits. Supply remains limited, so many are still purchasing masks and tests on their own, and the costs can easily add up.Wendy Edelberg is a Senior Fellow of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution who studies household spending and saving habits. She explains how time is one of the hidden costs associated with obtaining high-quality masks.In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
The annual inflation rate in the United States is running at a three decade high. Wendy Edelberg, director of The Hamilton Project and senior fellow, economic studies at The Brookings Institution, discusses the underpinning factors mostly related to the pandemic and weighs in on concern over long-term impact.
The annual inflation rate in the United States is running at a three decade high. So what's behind the inflation we're seeing throughout the economy? How is it landing on business owners and consumers, and what can be done about it? On Today's Show: Wendy Edelberg, director of The Hamilton Project and senior fellow, economic studies at The Brookings Institution, discusses the underpinning factors mostly related to the pandemic and weighs in on concern over long-term impact.
A resettlement agency helping Afghan refugees adapt to U.S. life; economist Wendy Edelberg on inflation, household budgets and the job market; a North Carolina brewery run by rival gang members; the massive evacuation efforts spurred by CA wildfires; the accidental discovery of an unknown island.
A resettlement agency helping Afghan refugees adapt to U.S. life; economist Wendy Edelberg on inflation, household budgets and the job market; a North Carolina brewery run by rival gang members; the massive evacuation efforts spurred by CA wildfires; the accidental discovery of an unknown island.
This is a strange moment in the economy. Wages are up, but so is inflation. Jobs are growing, but maybe not fast enough. Quit rates are at a 21st-century high. It isn't clear what's a trend, what's a blip, what's a transition and what's now normal. And all this as the virus continues to stalk us and we process the trauma of the last 18 months.“We all will have various times in our life where we'll stop and say, ‘Whoa — am I going in the right direction? Is this the right occupation for me? Should I do something differently?'” says Betsey Stevenson. “But I can't think of any other time when it's been a correlated shock across the entire country, where we've all been faced — no, forced — to ask questions.”Stevenson is an economist, and a highly accomplished one at that. She served as the chief economist of Barack Obama's Department of Labor and later a member of Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. Now she's a professor of public policy and economics at the University of Michigan, as well as co-host of the podcast “Think Like an Economist.” She has a rare talent to blend a rigorous approach to labor market economics with a recognition that people — our psychologies and fears and dreams — matter, and they shape our economic decisions. Particularly now.So I invited Stevenson on the show to discuss the big picture of what's happening right now in the U.S. economy — wages, employment, inflation and the animal spirits driving much of it. She didn't disappoint. I came away from this conversation far less confused than when I walked into it.Mentioned in this episode: “The Jobs Report Takeaway: A Huge Reallocation of People and Work Is Underway” by Betsey Stevenson “Examining the uneven and hard-to-predict labor market recovery” by Lauren Bauer, Arindrajit Dube, Wendy Edelberg, and Aaron Sojourner“Why we got more inflation than I expected” by Matt Yglesias“Do Hiring Headaches Imply a Labor Shortage?” by Paul KrugmanRecommendations: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroThe Undercover Economist Strikes Back by Tim Hartford Career and Family by Claudia GoldinIf you enjoyed this episode, check out our previous podcast “Employers Are Begging for Workers. Maybe That's a Good Thing” with Cornell political scientist Jamila Michener You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of "The Ezra Klein Show" at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein.Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.“The Ezra Klein Show” is produced by Annie Galvin, Jeff Geld and Rogé Karma; fact-checking by Michelle Harris; original music by Isaac Jones; mixing by Jeff Geld, audience strategy by Shannon Busta. Special thanks to Kristin Lin.
As the American Rescue Plan makes its final way through Congress, Wendy Edelberg examines how the key elements will provide much-needed economic relief to states and families, and make significant cuts in child poverty. Looking ahead, Edelberg recommends that Democrats and Republicans should next put together an infrastructure package to help build a robust, long-term economic recovery. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3ewuY0q Subscribe to Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Current is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.