In addition to previous open letters, here is one released today, with over 750 signatories:
Yet More Economists against Trump
35 Replies
Labor Force Developments
Nationwide, labor force down 2.7% from February, and down 2.4% from year ago.
Alan Blinder on the Biden Agenda
The Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy (CROWE) sponsored a series of talks on the election and economic issues. Yesterday’s talk was by Princeton’s Alan Blinder (former CEA member, former Fed Vice Chair). His talk with Q&A is here (YouTube).
Other visitors included Lee Ohanian, Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, Casey Mulligan and Brian Riedl (Manhattan Institute).
Covid-19 Hospitalizations, Fatalities Trending Up
Two days ago, reader Bruce Hall wrote:
Cases continue to escalate; deaths do not; hospitalizations are basically level. The hyperbole around cases is unfortunate because infections are not categorized for action since asymptomatic to severe are lumped together.
Covid-19 Fatalities and Excess Fatalities
The most recent “excess fatality” count remains solidly in the positive region, despite the severe under-reporting bias in the most recent observations. To see this, consider the most recent estimates for each of the previous vintages of “excess fatalities” calculated as actual-expected.
Guest Contribution: “Post COVID-19 Exit strategies and Emerging Markets Economic Challenges”
Today, we are pleased to present a guest contribution written by Joshua Aizenman (University of Southern California) and Hiro Ito (Portland State University) .
Some People Think Covid-19 Hospitalizations Are Level
Reader Bruce Hall writes yesterday:
Cases continue to escalate; deaths do not; hospitalizations are basically level. The hyperbole around cases is unfortunate because infections are not categorized for action since asymptomatic to severe are lumped together.
Fiscal Policy Efficacy in Times of Covid
Just in time for the module on fiscal policy in my macro policy course, multipliers in a time of Covid-19. From a CBO working paper by Selsiki, Betz, Chen, Demirel, Lee, and Nelson, “Key Methods That CBO Used to Estimate the Effects of Pandemic-Related Legislation on Output”.
Business Cycle Indicators, 16 October
With the release of industrial production figures today, the deceleration in economic activity continues, according to some key indicators noted by the NBER’s Business Cycle Dating Committee (BCDC).
Wall Street vs. Academics on Q3 and Q4
Given apparent gridlock in Washington – that is the gap between the administration and Senate Republicans on phase 4 recovery package – Wall Street economists and academics see the recovery somewhat differently. From the Initiative on Global Markets/FiveThirtyEight Covid panel round 10 survey (released October 12).