Lawrence H. Summers

Writing for PS since 2002
10 commentaries
1 videos & podcasts

Lawrence H. Summers, US Secretary of the Treasury (1999-2001) and Director of the US National Economic Council (2009-2010), is a former president of Harvard University, where he is currently University Professor.

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Whither Central Banking?
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Whither Central Banking?

Aug 23, 2019 Lawrence H. Summers & Anna Stansbury say that monetary policymakers should finally admit their impotence in the face of secular stagnation.

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When Hindsight Is Not 20/20
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When Hindsight Is Not 20/20

Sep 24, 2018 Lawrence H. Summers responds to Rob Johnson and George Soros's recent critique of post-2008 US economic policy.

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Final Thoughts on Secular Stagnation
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Final Thoughts on Secular Stagnation

Sep 6, 2018 Lawrence H. Summers concludes his exchange with Joseph Stiglitz on the causes and consequences of the Great Recession.

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Setting the Record Straight on Secular Stagnation
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Setting the Record Straight on Secular Stagnation

Sep 3, 2018 Lawrence H. Summers responds to Joseph Stiglitz's recent attack on his record under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

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Will the Center Hold?
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Will the Center Hold?

Dec 21, 2017 Lawrence H. Summers foresees a catatrophic political scenario if a financial crisis erupts or a recession takes hold.

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The G20 on Shaky Ground

The G20 on Shaky Ground

Jul 2, 2019 Lawrence H. Summers & Elmira Bayrasli discuss the past, present, and future of the G20.

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The Economic Consequences of Automation

Robert Skidelsky

Economic theory does not provide a clear answer regarding the overall impact of technological progress on jobs. And even if automation has traditionally been beneficial in the long run, policymakers should never ignore its disruptive short-term effects on workers.

Jerome Powell’s Dilemma

Carmen M. Reinhart & Vincent Reinhart

There is a reason that the US Federal Reserve chair often has a haunted look. Probably to his deep and never-to-be-expressed frustration, the Fed is setting monetary policy in a way that increases the likelihood that President Donald Trump will be reelected next year.

Brexit House of Cards

Mark Malloch-Brown

Following British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament, and an appeals court ruling declaring that act unlawful, the United Kingdom finds itself in a state of political frenzy. With rational decision-making having become all but impossible, any new political agreement that emerges is likely to be both temporary and deeply flawed.