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Michael J. Boskin

Michael J. Boskin

Writing for PS since 2009
94 commentaries

Michael J. Boskin is Professor of Economics at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He was Chairman of George H.W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers from 1989 to 1993, and headed the so-called Boskin Commission, a congressional advisory body that highlighted errors in official US inflation estimates.

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  1. Why Voters Are Unhappy About the Biden Economy
    boskin94_Elijah NouvelageGetty Images_voting ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

    Why Voters Are Unhappy About the Biden Economy

    May 2, 2024 Michael J. Boskin explains why Americans do not share the White House’s rosy assessment of its economic track record.

  2. The Anatomy of the Biden-Trump Rematch
    boskin93_Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images_election Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

    The Anatomy of the Biden-Trump Rematch

    Mar 12, 2024 Michael J. Boskin surveys the complicated mix of economic and other issues that will likely decide the 2024 election.

  3. The Most Important Developments of 2023
    boskin92_JOSEPH PREZIOSOAFP via Getty Images_harvardprotest Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

    The Most Important Developments of 2023

    Dec 21, 2023 Michael J. Boskin reflects on the year's major economic, political, and technological events and trends.

  4. Advanced Economies Must Face Fiscal Reality
    rajan83_Kevin DietschGetty Images_federalreserve Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

    Advanced Economies Must Face Fiscal Reality

    Oct 18, 2023 Michael J. Boskin argues that reforms to support growth and reduce unsustainable spending are more urgent than ever.

  5. Restless America
    boskin90_Drew AngererGetty Images_biden Drew AngererGetty Images

    Restless America

    Sep 11, 2023 Michael J. Boskin worries that the country’s likely presidential candidates are not equal to its most pressing challenges.

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  1. spence173_ Joe RaedleGetty Images_power Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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    Crunch Time for the Power Sector

    Michael Spence

    Making the power sector fit for the twenty-first century requires a “banker” that finances and coordinates relevant long-term investments, and an “architect” that guides the development of a complex, interconnected smart-grid system. National governments need to fill both roles.

     argues that developing flexible, stable, and resilient smart grids requires an expanded industrial policy.
  2. op_janeway16_SAUL LOEBAFP via Getty Images_bidenchips Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
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    The Rise of Mesoeconomics

    William H. Janeway

    A growing body of literature focusing on the domain between the microeconomic and the macroeconomic has become increasingly relevant in a world beset by supply shocks. Armed with such insights, those designing industrial policies will have a better chance of achieving their overlapping economic- and national-security goals.

     details how a long-neglected field of economic study can be applied to today's most pressing policy challenges.
  3. strain27_Philipp von Ditfurthpicture alliance via Getty Images_AIeducation Philipp von Ditfurth/picture alliance via Getty Images
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    What the AI Pessimists Are Missing

    Michael R. Strain points out that the technology will help to address many of the risks it creates.
  4. ito37_Spencer PlattGetty Images_columbiaprotests Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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    The Innocent Bystanders of College Protests

    Takatoshi Ito laments that a radical minority can disrupt the lives of so many in the broader university community.
  5. lacamera1_Wang DongzhenXinhua via Getty Images_COP28 Wang Dongzhen/Xinhua via Getty Images
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    Only Public-Private Cooperation Can Accelerate Decarbonization

    Francesco La Camera & Bruce Douglas explain how to translate political commitments into actual wind turbines and solar panels.
  6. haass167_ANATOLII STEPANOVAFP via Getty Images_ukrainesoldiers Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images
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    Defining Success in Ukraine

    Richard Haass calls for a shift to a defensive posture and efforts to bring about a long-term ceasefire.
  7. aslund75_Pierre CromGetty Images_ukraineconflict Pierre Crom/Getty Images
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    A Unified Western Strategy for Ukraine

    Anders Åslund proposes a maximalist approach to military aid to replace the current piecemeal injections of old weapons.
  8. khrushcheva180_ContributorGetty Images_shoiguputin Contributor/Getty Images
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    Russia’s Battle of the Ministries

    Nina L. Khrushcheva sees a high-ranking official's recent arrest as a sign of declining confidence in Vladimir Putin's leadership.
  9. ghosh77_MANDEL NGANAFP via Getty Images_ajaybanga Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
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    The “Billions to Trillions” Charade

    Jayati Ghosh explains why using development banks' resources to incentivize private-sector finance is unlikely to succeed.

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