Liberty
Busting myths about the ‘China shock’
Michael Strain explores the long-term impact of the American decision to open up trade with China. Few issues in the public square are uncontested. But the narrative that the United…
Michael R. Strain
American economist
Liberty
Circumstances suggest deficit reduction could be on the way
Michael Strain ponders whether the normal democratic process can lead to a reduction in federal deficits. In Washington, analysts and politicians alike seem increasingly resigned to the idea that the…
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Trump has options for limiting price growth
Michael Strain ponders the president’s options for battling inflation. With prices rising faster than wages, workers are losing ground in the US. The consumer price index for April, released this…
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Rubio describes his hope for America
Michael Strain writes for National Review Online about the secretary of state’s latest remarks. Marco Rubio filled in yesterday as the temporary White House press secretary. He was asked by…
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Assessing Trump’s impact on GOP foreign policy
Michael Strain explores President Donald Trump’s long-term impact on Republicans’ approach toward foreign policy. Trump has not governed as an isolationist. But his assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in…
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Assessing AI’s impact on productivity growth
Michael Strain explores one of the most important impacts of artificial intelligence. Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, economists and commentators have been discussing generative AI’s…
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Correcting misconceptions about the US labor market
Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute ponders surprising US employment numbers. Markets, economists and Federal Reserve officials seem to believe that the US labour market spent most of last…
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Challenging arguments about affluence’s negative impact
Michael Strain responds to a recent narrative about the downside of American affluence. In [Brink] Lindsey’s telling, individuals in rich democracies are overweight, addicted to their phones, and have declining…
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Restoring strength of Reagan, Thatcher conservatism
Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute longs for the return of core conservative principles. Consider, for example, US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the government should send households $2,000 tariff…
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Trump’s Intel deal ‘threatens’ economic liberty
Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute explains his concerns about a recent Trump administration action. During the 2008 financial crisis, the US government spent and risked taxpayer dollars to…
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Trump tariffs as an ‘economic emergency’
Michael Strain writes for the Financial Times about the impact of the president’s approach toward tariffs. “Liberation day” has arrived. Unfortunately, it threatens to liberate Americans from robust real wage…
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Targeting Trump’s tariff policies for criticism
Michael Strain struggles to see value in President Donald Trump’s recent economic pronouncements. Trump’s campaign policy agenda had both pluses and minuses. While there were obvious flaws, much of what…