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Maurice Obstfeld

Maurice Obstfeld

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Maurice Obstfeld, a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Professor of Economics Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley.

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  1. King Dollar’s Shaky Crown
    op_obstfeld3_Tetra ImagesGetty Images_dollar Tetra Images/Getty Images

    King Dollar’s Shaky Crown

    Apr 25, 2025 Maurice Obstfeld warns that fragmenting capital markets are putting the greenback’s global primacy at risk.

  2. Trump’s Inflationary Triple Threat
    op_disparte1_SadikDemirozGetty Images_digitaldollar FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s Inflationary Triple Threat

    Nov 22, 2024 Maurice Obstfeld warns that the incoming administration’s agenda would weaken the Fed and destabilize the financial system.

  3. Donald Trump’s Tariffs Would Hurt US Workers and Businesses
    obstfeld6_Anthony KwanGetty Images_tariffs Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    Donald Trump’s Tariffs Would Hurt US Workers and Businesses

    Oct 22, 2024 Maurice Obstfeld shows why targeting an overall reduction in imports would reduce America’s real wages and national income.

  4. America’s Deficit Attention Disorder
    obstfeld5_ Justin SullivanGetty Images_trade Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    America’s Deficit Attention Disorder

    Aug 5, 2024 Maurice Obstfeld thinks the accumulation of public debt is a far more urgent problem than the trade balance.

  5. The Dangers of a US Capital Inflow Tax
    obstfeld4_Jabin BotsfordThe Washington Post via Getty Images_trumplighthizer Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    The Dangers of a US Capital Inflow Tax

    Jun 14, 2024 Maurice Obstfeld worries that a little-known, highly costly method of deficit reduction is gaining political traction.

  1. gebert6_Sergei GaponAFPGettyImages_news_nawrocki_trzaskowski Sergei Gapon/AFP/Getty Images
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    A Polish Cliffhanger

    Konstanty Gebert explains why a right-wing populist could win the presidential election against the government’s candidate.
  2. bradley3_Orbon AlijaGettyImages_marathon_standouts_stragglers Orbon Alija/Getty Images
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    The Heroes of Productivity

    Chris Bradley & Jan Mischke share new research finding that a few standout firms are the engine of aggregate growth.
  3. mikadze1_OLEKSANDR GIMANOVAFP via Getty Images_ukrainepower Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP via Getty Images
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    Rebuilding Ukraine’s Innovation Infrastructure

    Salome Mikadze foresees the country’s tech firms driving its economic recovery, if policymakers start supporting them now.
  4. ahuq8_Ricky CariotiThe Washington PostGettyImages_us_uk_trade_deal_announcement Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post/Getty Images
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    Non-Credible America

    Aziz Huq sees no reason to believe that the US has the capacity to commit to international trade agreements.
  5. basu112_erhui1979Getty Images_inequalitypie erhui1979/Getty Images
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    The High Cost of Our GDP Obsession

    Kaushik Basu shows how relying on a flawed metric can deepen inequality, threaten democracy, and jeopardize the planet.
  6. aeohen1_JOSEPH PREZIOSOAFP via Getty Images_harvard Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
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    Defunding Harvard Hurts America

    Adam Cohen explains the real-world consequences of canceling federal research grants in the name of fighting antisemitism.
  7. elerian178_Boris RoesslerPicture AllianceGettyImages_ny_stock_exchange Boris Roessler/Picture Alliance/Getty Images
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    Where Is US Economic Policy Taking Us?

    Mohamed A. El-Erian

    With US economic policies driving financial and economic volatility and rousing the bond vigilantes, it is an open question whether we are witnessing the fragmenting of the international order, or just a bumpy ride toward a beneficial overhaul. Five factors could clarify the answer.

     considers what today’s heightened volatility means for the United States and the global economy.
  8. lee56_KIM HONG-JIPOOLAFP via Getty Images_southkoreaelection Kim Hong-ji/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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    South Korea Is Facing a Triple Challenge

    Lee Jong-Wha

    At a time when South Korea's economy is slowing, its democracy is backsliding, and its security environment is growing increasingly fraught, the winner of the presidential election on June 3 will face no shortage of challenges. Fortunately, South Korea has shown a remarkable capacity for reinvention and renewal.

     proposes an agenda for revitalizing the economy, reinvigorating democracy, and bolstering security.
  9. qxu4_Song WeixingVCGGettyImages_deepseek_powered_robot ong Weixing/VCG/Getty Images
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    Will Trump Tip the AI Race in China’s Favor?

    Qiyuan Xu & Yaqiang Wang explain why the US president’s MAGA agenda may end up helping to make China great again.

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