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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. lachman3_Charly TriballeauGettyImages_us_economy_eggs Charly Triballeau/Getty Images

    America Looks Like a Troubled Emerging-Market Economy

    Desmond Lachman lists the symptoms, from tariffs and massive public debt, to oligarchy and flagrant conflicts of interest.
  2. fofack29_eric1513Getty Images_dedollarization eric1513/Getty Images

    Will Trump Destroy the Dollar’s Primacy?

    Within its first two months, President Donald Trump’s second administration has attacked US institutions, alienated trade partners and allies, decimated consumer and investor confidence, and sent the stock market plummeting. Can the dollar’s status as the world’s leading reserve currency – and the extraordinary advantages this affords the US economy – withstand the onslaught?

  3. moyo32_Anton PetrusGettyImages_ai_money Anton Petrus/Getty Images

    Will AI Mean Higher Taxes?

    Dambisa Moyo warns business leaders that automation-driven efficiency gains may come with hidden long-term costs.
  4. gbrowne1_Thomas SamsonGettyImages_fossil_fuel_non_proliferation_treaty Thomas Samson/Getty Images

    A Defining Moment for Energy Security and Economic Prosperity

    Gaston Browne points out that the energy transition is vital not only to protect the planet, but also to enhance resilience.
  5. norrlof10_Picture AllianceGettyImages_lng_terminal_baltic_sea Picture Alliance/Getty Images

    How Much “Weaponization” Can the Global Economy Take?

    Carla Norrlöf worries that major powers’ understandable reliance on economic coercion will go too far.
  6. op_detter1_utah778Getty Images_balancesheet utah778/Getty Images

    Fixing Public Finances Without a Chainsaw

    Dag Detter

    Governments are the most important wealth managers in their respective jurisdictions, but they rarely behave like it. To boost revenue and ensure economic stability, policymakers must modernize their accounting practices and establish public wealth funds.

    urges cash-strapped countries to adopt a commercial approach to management of government-owned assets.
  7. delong268_Drew AngererGetty Images_trump Drew Angerer/Getty Images

    Rescuing America’s Economy from Trump

    J. Bradford DeLong thinks the US president needs a regent, similar to the role Howard Baker played under Ronald Reagan.
  8. bildt133_Tobias SchwarzGettyImages_rutte_vance Tobias Schwarz/Getty Images

    The Transatlantic World Will Never Be the Same

    Carl Bildt urges Europeans to prepare for the worst from Donald Trump’s America, which is behaving like an adversary.
  9. goldberg34_Mario TamaGetty Images_USshippingcontainers Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Making Sense of the Tariff Chaos

    Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg considers whether the zero-sum logic behind the new US policy will spread.

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