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Robert J. Barro

Robert J. Barro

13 commentaries

Robert J. Barro, Professor of Economics at Harvard University, is a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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  1. Understanding Recent US Inflation
    barro12_STEFANI REYNOLDSAFP via Getty Images_inflation STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

    Understanding Recent US Inflation

    Aug 30, 2022 Robert J. Barro sees the fiscal-policy response to the COVID recession as the main factor fueling faster price growth.

  2. Yes, the US Economy Is Likely in Recession
    barro11_Michael NagleXinhua via Getty Images_USstockmarketrecession Michael Nagle/Xinhua via Getty Images

    Yes, the US Economy Is Likely in Recession

    Aug 1, 2022 Robert J. Barro shows that two consecutive quarters of negative US growth have almost always preceded an official downturn designation.

  3. Big State Inflation
    barro10 Getty Images

    Big State Inflation

    Dec 4, 2021 Robert J. Barro worries that US monetary and fiscal policy is running off the rails and theatening future growth.

  4. An Interview with Robert J. Barro
    David Ricardo Economics for many decades has been dominated by journal articles, rather than books. But there are a few classics that are undoubtedly worth reading. Beyond the aforementioned Smith and Weber, this 1817 book by Ricardo is effectively the first work on macroeconomics, and thus essential reading.

    An Interview with Robert J. Barro

    Apr 20, 2021 Robert J. Barro warns that the anchor of long-term inflation expectations is being pulled up, advises the US on how to deal with China, and critiques Joe Biden’s proposed infrastructure package.

  5. Pulling Up the Inflation Anchor
    barro8_Win McNameeGetty Images_volcker Win McNamee/Getty Images

    Pulling Up the Inflation Anchor

    Feb 25, 2021 Robert J. Barro worries that reckless policies could undo decades of hard-won gains by monetary policymakers.

  1. espinosa5_Joe RaedleGetty Images_solar panels Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

    Accelerating Latin America’s Clean-Energy Revolution

    Patricia Espinosa & Lourdes Melgar tout the huge opportunities and identify the main challenges of the transition to renewables in the region.
  2. acemoglu66_Michael M. SantiagoGetty Images_trump protest Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    What Anti-Trumpism Is Missing

    Daron Acemoglu urges Democrats to support working-class interests and priorities after many years of neglect.
  3. elerian161_Getty Images_global economy Getty Images

    Beware the New Consensus on the Global Economy

    Mohamed A. El-Erian

    Despite an increasingly challenging economic and geopolitical environment, the global economy performed better than expected over the past year. But although analysts’ projections for 2023 were too pessimistic, it appears that consensus forecasts for the coming year may have have swung too far in the opposite direction.

    worries that domestic political divisions and market volatility could exacerbate financial vulnerabilities.
  4. sheng143_Yan YanXinhua via Getty Images_central work conference Yan Yan/Xinhua via Getty Images

    The Future of China’s Financial System

    Andrew Sheng & Xiao Geng assess the outcome of the country’s first Central Financial Work Conference in six years.
  5. ilango1_Getty Images_esg Getty Images

    Mapping the Future of ESG at COP28

    Vijay Bains predicts that the upcoming climate summit in Dubai will build a global consensus on sustainable investing.
  6. subacchi43_LUIS ROBAYOAFP via Getty Images_milei dollar LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images

    Cry for Milei’s Argentina

    Paola Subacchi cautions against the incoming leader’s pledge to establish the greenback as the sole legal tender.
  7. kimooon31_RezaGetty Images_oil Reza/Getty Images

    Petrostates Must Take the Lead on Climate Finance

    Ban Ki-moon, et al.

    If COP28 is to be judged a success, the UAE, as the summit’s host, and other hydrocarbon producers should promise to dedicate some of the windfall oil and gas profits they earned last year to accelerating the green transition in the Global South. Doing so could encourage historic and current emitters to pay their fair share.

    urges oil-exporting countries to kickstart a program of green investment in the Global South at COP28.
  8. fratzscher18_ODD ANDERSENAFP via Getty Images_germany debt brake ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images

    Germany’s Debt Brake Is Breaking Its Economy

    Marcel Fratzscher warns that a flawed constitutional rule is undermining the country’s ability to pursue essential reforms.
  9. schaaf1_JEWEL SAMADAFP via Getty Images_cop28 JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images
    Free to read

    Why COP28 Has Already Failed

    Marta Schaaf & Kristine Beckerle say that the UAE’s repression of dissidents and rights activists serves defenders of the climate status quo.

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