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As Treasury yields rise and concerns about federal debt grow, when does a fiscal challenge become a fiscal crisis? Douglas Elmendorf joined EconoFact Chats to discuss the economic consequences of high and rising federal debt. econofact.org/podcast/on-h...

On High and Rising Debt | Econofact Chats

A discussion with Doug Elmendorf on how US government debt became a problem, what this means for the broader economy, and what prospects there are for reducing it.

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High mortgage rates, limited housing supply, and rising construction costs have made homeownership increasingly out of reach for many Americans. What policies could improve housing affordability? Jeffrey Zabel explains econofact.org/prospects-fo...

Prospects for Improving Housing Affordability | Econofact

Housing affordability in the United States has declined markedly since the pandemic and spread beyond historically high-priced coastal cities.

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Inflation, tariffs, jobs, and growth are sending conflicting signals. How should we make sense of today's economic cross-currents? @bcappelbaum.bsky.social, Larry Edelman, Scott Horsley, and @senojerialc.bsky.social joined EconoFact Chats to discuss. econofact.org/podcast/maki...

Making Sense of Economic Cross Currents | Econofact Chats

A discussion of recent economic events with Binyamin Appelbaum (New York Times), Larry Edelman (Boston Globe), Scott Horsley (NPR), and Claire Jones (Financial Times).

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While there are numerous factors driving the rise in house prices, as Jeff Zabel explains, the scarcity of housing units has risen to the top of the list. What will it take to fix the issue? econofact.org/the-housing-...

The Housing Shortage and the Policies to Address It | Econofact

A housing shortage problem has been building (or not, as the case maybe) for decades. But the pandemic took it to a whole new level.

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Millions of Americans depend on Social Security, but the program is projected to run short of funds over the next decade. Social Security's longer-term financial problems arise from the aging of the population. Karen Dynan discusses the consequences econofact.org/will-social-...

Will Social Security be There for You? | Econofact

Because of population aging, Social Security is projected to exhaust its ability to fund full retirement benefits in 2034; after that time, incoming revenues will only be sufficient to pay 77 % of sch...

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Sufficient food is available in the world for all people to consume sufficient calories, yet one-third of the world's population cannot afford healthy diets. If food production is high, why are healthy foods out of reach for so many? Leah Costlow explains. econofact.org/does-the-wor...

Does the World Produce Enough Healthy Food? | Econofact

The world produces enough food for all people to consume sufficient calories, but not healthy diets. Access to healthy diets varies by region.

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10 years after the Brexit referendum, researchers are gaining a clearer picture of its economic consequences. What can we learn from its impact on trade, investment, productivity, and growth? Nicholas Bloom, @paulmizen.bsky.social, and Gregory Thwaites explain econofact.org/the-economic...

The Economic Costs of Brexit on the UK | Econofact

Brexit has had a substantial economic impact on the United Kingdom, with adverse effects on investment, productivity, employment, and growth.

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Social Security's trust fund reserves are projected to be depleted by 2034. Policymakers face critical decisions about how to restore solvency and create a system resilient to future demographic changes. @gsgoda.bsky.social explains econofact.org/explainer/th...

The Challenges Facing Social Security | Econofact

Executive Summary Social Security is a cornerstone of America's social safety net, providing retirement, survivor, and disability benefits to over 70 million Americans — approximately one in five peop...

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The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is close to its highest level ever, and continues to increase. How did it reach this level? And how do rising interest rates add to the cost of servicing the debt? @dbergstresser.bsky.social explains. econofact.org/the-cost-of-...

The Cost of Financing U.S. Government Debt | Econofact

The relatively short maturity structure of US government debt means that increases in interest rates translate rapidly into higher interest costs.

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U.S. fertility rates have fallen below the level needed for population replacement, raising concerns about economic growth and the federal budget. How do fertility rates affect government spending, revenues, and debt? Lisa Dettling, Luke Pardue, and Ella Grant explain econofact.org/how-do-ferti...

How Do Fertility Rates Affect US Fiscal Sustainability? | Econofact

The rising ratio of old-age dependents to the working age population drives projections of increasing US federal debt over the next three decades.

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The rising costs of child and elder care is one of the largest expenses faced by families. How effective is the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit at helping people afford care, and what reforms could make it more accessible? @gabriellepepin.bsky.social explains econofact.org/can-a-tax-cr...

Can a Tax Credit Help Balance Work and Caregiving? | Econofact

The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit can increase the use of paid child care, and promote labor force participation among secondary earners.

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While the best trade war strategy is to not have one, this seems to no longer be an option. Drawing on their new book 'How to Win a Trade War,' @soumayakeynes.ft.com & @chadpbown.com join EconoFact Chats to discuss this, and how countries can prepare for these fights. econofact.org/podcast/how-...

How to Win a Trade War | Econofact Chats

A discussion with Soumaya Keynes and Chad Bown on their new book 'How to Win a Trade War: A Friendly Guide to an Unfriendly World.'

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Medicaid covers more than 75 million low-income and disabled Americans. In this EconoFact Explainer, Mark Shepard unpacks how the program works and the tradeoffs at the heart of these debates: how to balance coverage, cost, access, and federalism. econofact.org/explainer/un...

Understanding The Medicaid Program | Econofact

Executive Summary Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program that covers over 75 million low-income and disabled Americans as of January 2026. Medicaid, along with the closely linked C...

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China has become the world's largest market for electric vehicles, while EV adoption in the U.S. has lagged behind. What factors contributed to this gap, and what policies could help accelerate the transition to EVs in the U.S.? Charles Collyns @econofact explains econofact.org/how-the-u-s-...

How the U.S. Fell Behind in Adopting the Electric Car | Econofact

While sales of new EVs surged globally in 2025 to over 20 million vehicles, they were flat in the U.S. at 1.5 million vehicles--about 10% of new car sales.

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Good corporate tax policy must balance raising adequate revenue while promoting efficient, competitive, and fair outcomes for both domestic and multinational businesses. In this EconoFact Explainer, Elena Spatoulas Patel examines how well the US has struck that balance. econofact.org/explainer/ta...

Taxing Domestic and Multinational Corporations | Econofact

Executive Summary Corporate taxation must balance raising adequate revenue while minimizing distortions to business decisions. The corporate income tax is an essential component of the federal tax sys...

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US federal debt has climbed from 35% of GDP in 2007 to roughly 100% today. Karen Dynan and Douglas Elmendorf at Harvard explain the risks of high and rising federal debt, and the ways in which a fiscal crisis could unfold. econofact.org/explainer/fe...

Federal Debt and the Risk of a Fiscal Crisis | Econofact

Executive Summary High and rising federal debt, combined with concerns about policymakers’ willingness and ability to manage the government’s finances, increase the risk of a fiscal crisis in which in...

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As wealth inequality continues to grow, policymakers are debating whether a wealth tax could reduce disparities and raise revenue. But how would a wealth tax work, and what economic and administrative challenges would it face? Christopher Towe discusses the tradeoffs econofact.org/the-wealth-t...

The Wealth Tax Debate | Econofact

Increasing inequality and the need to raise tax revenues to fund social programs have fueled new proposals to tax wealth at the federal and state levels.

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Digital services taxes have become a growing source of tension between the U.S. and Europe. Why are European countries targeting large tech firms, and what could this dispute mean for trade relations, multinational taxation, and more? Daniel Shaviro discusses. econofact.org/explainer/th...

The US – EU Dispute Over Digital Services Taxes | Econofact

Executive Summary An ongoing dispute between the United States and various European Union countries centers on the latter’s imposing digital services taxes (DSTs). These are taxes on the gross revenue...

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As the “Great Wealth Transfer” accelerates, policymakers face growing questions about estate taxes, inheritance taxes, and the taxation of unrealized capital gains. @billgale.bsky.social and John Sabelhaus discuss the policy options in this EconoFact explainer. econofact.org/explainer/ho...

How Should the U.S. Tax the Great Wealth Transfer? | Econofact

Executive Summary In the next few decades, the U.S. will experience “The Great Wealth Transfer” – the largest set of intergenerational wealth transfers in history. If the experience of earlier generat...

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EconoFact @econofact.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Want to understand the economic policy debates shaping headlines? Today we're announcing EconoFact Explainers -- in-depth articles on a range of topics, including the federal debt, taxation, Social Security, tariffs, and the tradeoffs behind them. More here: econofact.org/explainer

Explainers | Econofact

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Is suspending the federal gas tax a good idea? As Gilbert Metcalf points out, cutting the gas tax would not have much of an effect on prices at the pump, and undermines our efforts to cut our reliance on oil. econofact.org/should-we-su...

Should We Suspend Gas Taxes to Counter High Oil Prices? | Econofact

The price of gasoline has spiked since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Politicians have been quick to call for a temporary suspension of gas excise taxes. But is this good policy?

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New research shows that states which implemented total abortion bans following the Supreme Court’s decision on Dobbs saw stalling rental price growth, and rising vacancies. econofact.org/do-state-abo...

Do State Abortion Bans Affect Housing Markets? | Econofact

New research shows that states which implemented total abortion bans following the Supreme Court's decision on Dobbs saw stalling rental price growth, and rising vacancies.

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EconoFact and @journoresource.bsky.social co-hosted an AMA on the energy market disruptions stemming from the war in Iran. Here's an abridged version of the discussion featuring @bcappelbaum.bsky.social, @nickbloom.bsky.social, David Victor, and @mwkleinphd.bsky.social. econofact.org/podcast/the-...

The Economic Consequences of the Iran War | Econofact Chats

Binyamin Applebaum, Nicholas Bloom, Michael Klein, and David Victor discuss the economic consequences of the war in Iran.

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The Jones Act dramatically increases the cost of shipping in the US, but waiving it would lead to only modest savings in the price of gas. econofact.org/the-jones-ac...

The Jones Act and the Cost of Shipping Between U.S. Ports (UPDATED) | Econofact

The Jones Act has been temporarily waived amid the spike in oil prices. The effects of the Act in times of crisis highlight a more general consequence of protectionist policies: they benefit a few pro...

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How does the United States' military spending compare to that of other countries? econofact.org/u-s-defense-...

U.S. Defense Spending in Historical and International Context | Econofact

Current U.S. military spending is higher than at any point of the Cold War in inflation-adjusted terms, but relatively low as a percent of national income.

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At the end of FY2024, debt held by the public stood at almost 98% of GDP. econofact.org/the-cost-of-...

The Cost of Financing U.S. Government Debt | Econofact

The relatively short maturity structure of US government debt means that increases in interest rates translate rapidly into higher interest costs.

econofact.org