Publications

Latin America and the Caribbean

Job Growth Slows to 263,000 in September, Wage Growth at 0.3 Percent, Again

Wages have grown at a 0.3 percent rate for the last two months; a pace consistent with the Fed’s inflation target.

Dean Baker / October 07, 2022

Article Artículo

Honduras

World

Why Is the US Condemning Honduras For Fighting Corruption?

If the Biden administration is serious about tackling the root causes of forced migration in Central America and genuinely wants to support constitutional democracy in the region, then it should recognize the end of the ZEDEs as a positive step forward.

Brett Heinz and Beth Geglia / October 06, 2022

Article Artículo

NYT Headlines Piece on National Debt Crossing $31.1 Trillion for the First Time!

It might have been helpful if we had some context … instead of just trying to scare readers with the really big numbers.

Dean Baker / October 05, 2022

Article Artículo

Preview: Jobs, Wages, and Hours – The Big Three Items in September

In a best-case scenario, we will see a picture of a labor market that looks like 2019, with the economy near full employment, but wages increasing at a more moderate pace.

Dean Baker / October 05, 2022

Article Artículo

Economic Policy

Quick, How Big a Deal is 43 Billion Pounds to the United Kingdom?

For those who might not be intimately familiar with the size of the UK economy or budget, the tax cut would be a bit less than 2 percent of the UK's projected GDP for 2023.

Dean Baker / October 03, 2022

Article Artículo

Economic Growth

Latin America and the Caribbean

Is Income Growth Really Lagging?

Dean Baker / October 02, 2022

Article Artículo

Brazil

Democracy

Elections

World

The Fake News Machine: How Meta Endangers Brazilian Democracy

With just days left before Brazilians head to the polls to decide the political future of their country, the use of social media by political elites to manipulate elections is again in full swing.

Brett Heinz / September 30, 2022

Article Artículo

Inequality

Health and Social Programs

The Market Did Not Cause Inequality, No Matter How Much the New York Times Insists

Dean Baker / September 29, 2022

report informe

Affordable Care Act

COVID-19

Understanding and Addressing Long COVID

As Long COVID continues to leave individuals unable to work due to disabling post-COVID conditions, ensuring access to adequate healthcare benefits and social insurance programs will be crucial.

Shawn Fremstad, Julia Godfrey, Hayley Brown, Alan Barber and Chenelle Hammonds / September 29, 2022

Article Artículo

Budget

Government

Student Loan Forgiveness and Really Big Number Syndrome

It really would help if reporters covering budget issues saw it as their responsibility to convey information to their audiences rather than just engaging in fraternity rituals of writing down really big numbers that are meaningless to almost everyone.

Dean Baker / September 27, 2022

Article Artículo

Intellectual Property

Econ 101: Tariffs and Government Granted Patent Monopolies Lead to Corruption

Dean Baker / September 26, 2022

Article Artículo

Poverty Correlates with the Recent Increase in Gun Violence

Eliminating poverty will bring numerous social benefits to US society, and one of them might be a significant reduction in the country’s extremely high rate of gun violence.

Algernon Austin / September 26, 2022

Article Artículo

Inflation

The Fed’s Interest Rate Hikes Are Going to Hit the Most Vulnerable

The Fed should pause before it hikes further and see the extent to which its hikes to date, along with supply chain fixes, have quelled inflation.

Dean Baker / September 23, 2022

Article Artículo

Inequality

How Will the Fed’s Rate Hikes Help the Poor?

Those at the bottom end of the income distribution will be paying the biggest price for the Fed’s anti-inflation policy, and it is important to recognize this fact.

Dean Baker / September 23, 2022

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Productivity and the Four Day Workweek (see note)

It is hugely important for those advocating four-day workweeks to know what its impact is on productivity. Unfortunately, the New York Times piece provides no real basis for making that assessment.

Dean Baker / September 22, 2022

Article Artículo

Inflation

NYT Spreads Myths on Inflation

There is a common myth that Germany’s hyperinflation led to the collapse of democracy in Germany and the rise of Hitler…but it doesn’t correspond to reality.

Dean Baker / September 19, 2022

Article Artículo

Intellectual Property

Hey, If the Government Pays for the Research, It Doesn’t Have to Grant Patent Monopolies

It really shouldn’t not sound too radical to say that companies only get paid once for their work. If the government pays for the research, it doesn’t also give you a patent monopoly.

Dean Baker / September 18, 2022

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The Non-Mystery of a Smaller Labor Force

The problem we are seeing is an extraordinary restructuring of the labor market due to the pandemic.

Dean Baker / September 16, 2022

Article Artículo

Do Workers Have to Take It on the Chin to Fight Inflation?

My toolbox includes a financial transactions tax, universal accounts at the Fed, stop pension funds from making private equity partners rich, and stop universities from making hedge fund partners rich by managing their endowments.

Dean Baker / September 16, 2022

Article Artículo