EconoFact Chats

Latest Episodes
Unpacking Tariff Uncertainty, the Budget Bill, and a Debt Downgrade
EconoFact Chats regularly hosts a panel discussion with top economic journalists. Since the panel last met in March, the House passed the 'big, beautiful budget bill,' Moodys has downgradedU.S. debt
The Consequences of Tighter Work Requirements for SNAP
Since the mid-1990s, the U.S. social safety net has been geared towards policies that encourage and reward work. While steady jobs and decent wages are the surest routes out of poverty, evidence shows
Trade, Tariffs, the Dollar and the World Economy
This week, EconoFact Chats features an abridged version of the EconoFact Ask Me Anything Webinar held on April22nd, featuring Maurice Obstfeld, former Chief Economist at the IMF, and a member of the
Can Manufacturing Still Provide Inclusive Growth?
Manufacturing employment has been declining as a share of total employment in the U.S. What's driving this decline? Does the reduction in manufacturing employment represent a natural progression as ec
The Significance and Solvency of Social Security
About one in five Americans receive retirement, survivor, disability, or supplemental income Social Security benefits. These payments represent a vital financial safety net, especially for retirees wh
Is Dollar Dominance Durable?
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 denomina
The Stock Market, The Economy, and Your Finances
This EconoFact Chats episode is an abridged version of the EconoFact Ask Me Anything Webinar held on March 26th that featured John Campbell (Harvard), one of the leading authorities on finance and fin
Treasury Bonds, Safe Havens, and Financial Stress
United States Treasury bonds have long been viewed as a highly liquid investment with very little risk of default. They have served as a safe haven for investors and also provided a benchmark interest
Long Run Fiscal Solvency and Its Consequences
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
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Economy
President Trump inherited an economy that was, at least in the aggregate, performing exceptionally well. Since taking office, however, the stock market has fallen, and there are heightened expectation