EconoFact Chats

EconoFact Chats


The U.S. Economy: Still the “Envy of the World”?

September 07, 2025

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.