As the Trump administration attempts to financially isolate Iran, its domestic financial deregulation is creating loopholes that undermine the administration’s own economic blockade and jeopardize U.S...

News about immigration and deportations are on the front page every day. The immediate trauma of these lawless, violent attacks on immigrants and communities is clear, but the longer-term economic fal...

May 2022 marked the 90th anniversary of the end of Heinrich Brüning’s term as Reich Chancellor. To this day, the economic effects of Brüning’s extreme austerity measures remain unclear. However, new d...

World Day for Decent Work is an opportunity for the labour movement to take action for decent work to be placed at the centre of economic and government policy, including the protection of fundamenta...

May 2022 marked the 90th anniversary of the end of Heinrich Brüning’s term as Reich Chancellor. To this day, the economic effects of Brüning’s extreme austerity measures remain unclear. However, new d...

As the Trump administration attempts to financially isolate Iran, its domestic financial deregulation is creating loopholes that undermine the administration’s own economic blockade and jeopardize U.S...

Over the last few months, we’ve discussed the future of Vernon, from our plans for economic resilience and public safety to how we are building a more accessible, age-friendly community. We have laid ...

Ahead of midterms that could turn on high prices and borrowing costs, the secretary dresses down officials.

The U.S. trade deficit has reached its highest level since President Donald Trump implemented sweeping tariffs on 'Liberation Day' in April 2025, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The deficit grew by 13.7% to $105.6 billion from July to August 2026, marking the largest gap since March 2025's $140 billion. While imports increased by 4.3% to $420.8 billion, exports grew at a slower pace of 2.2% to $205.7 billion. Trump's administration had promised that tariffs would shrink the trade deficit, which represents when a country imports more goods than it exports. However, economists argue that the tariffs have not achieved this goal and may have even contributed to widening the deficit due to their volatile nature. The fluctuating tariff rates, such as the 145% on China that later dropped to around 30%, have created uncertainty that prevents businesses from making long-term supply chain adjustments. Instead, companies continue to import goods despite higher costs, adjusting prices rather than changing behavior. Experts attribute the growing deficit largely to the AI boom, which has driven demand for overseas hardware and added $200 billion to the deficit in April alone. Economists like Tarek Hassan of Boston University and Donald Boudreaux of George Mason University argue that a large trade deficit is not inherently negative; it reflects strong foreign investment in the U.S. economy, including through Treasuries, which provides cheap credit to Americans. Hassan warns that closing the deficit could lead to a crisis as foreign investment would taper, making it harder to finance the national debt. Boudreaux emphasizes that the deficit is a sign of economic health, not weakness, and that Trump's focus on reducing it overlooks the benefits of continued foreign investment. The White House, however, maintains that tariffs have spurred a manufacturing renaissance, citing trillions in manufacturing investments. Despite these claims, the data shows the deficit has widened, and economists remain skeptical of the administration's approach. The situation highlights the complex relationship between trade policies, economic indicators, and global market dynamics, particularly in the context of rapid technological advancements like AI.

Replies by 🎓Craig Calhoun, 🎓Paul D. Grauwe, 🎓Michael McFaul, 🎓Richard S.J. Tol, 🎓Anders Aslund +29 more scholars

Replies by 🎓Craig Calhoun, 🎓Michael McFaul, 🎓Joe R. Feagin, 🎓Justin Wolfers, 🎓Stephen M. Walt +32 more scholars

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United States President Donald Trump has threatened a crushing financial campaign against Iran, which he has referred to as “economic D-Day”, as the war on Tehran continues to drag on. But on Thursday, the first casualty appeared to be US markets. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list As US crude oil nudged up from its Wednesday closing price of $86.20 per barrel to $86.70, the US stock market made its worst losses in three weeks.

Nigeria's domestic gas supply has crossed 2 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d), as the ​government pushes to expand supplies to power plants ‌and industries and reduce constraints on economic growth, the country's gas minister said on Friday.

"Operation Economic Outcast" was touted by President Donald Trump as Iran's "economic D-Day" when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled it in August.

The Trump administration's 'Operation Economic Outcast' escalates with fresh sanctions targeting Iran's largest automakers, state railway, and heavy manufacturing in a bid to starve the regime of reve...

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