In the News

Full In the News Archive

• The Third-Best Reform
  October 25, 2009
  The Washington Post, Editorial
  The article argues that most economists agree the best way to pay for health care reform is to tax employer-sponsored health insurance. However, as Hamilton Project Advisory Alan Blinder once theorized, "Economists have the least influence on policy where they know the most and are most agreed."

• Tomorrow's Burden
  October 22, 2009
  The Economist
  The article discusses long-term government debt and its effect on the future of the economy. It references a 2004 paper by Hamilton Project expert William Gale and Peter Orszag on future deficits, interest rates and national income.

• Dangers of a Declining Dollar
  October 20, 2009
  CNBC, by Lulu Chiang
  An interview with Hamilton Project Advisory Council Member Roger Altman after his panel discussion at The Economist's Buttonwood Gathering in New York City, on the dangers of a declining dollar.

• In Health Debate, Those Numbers are Just Numbers
  October 19, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Lori Montgomery
  The article discusses the Congressional Budget Office's numbers on the health care reform. Hamilton Project Advisory Council member & founding director of the CBO, Alice Rivlin said that even the CBO knows that even their best estimates are educated guesses.

• Comedy Aside, an Obama Report Card
  October 17, 2009
  The New York Times (Economic View), by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alan Blinder grades the success of the Obama administration on the stimulus package, rescuing the banks, foreclosure prevention and trying for regulatory reform. He also argues Obama has made some headway on health care and cap-and-trade legislation.

• Bending the Revenue Curve
  October 13, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Henry J. Aaron & Isabel V. Sawhill
  Henry Aaron and Hamilton Project expert Isabel Sawhill argue that higher taxes will be necessary to offset the costs of government services. They believe that a value-added tax is the best way to accomplish this goal.

• How to Avoid Greenback Grief
  October 11, 2009
  The Financial Times, by Roger Altman
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Roger Altman believes that America must commit now, and in writing, to deficit reduction once the economy has recovered. He believes the foreign exchange market could lose confidence in the U.S. financial policy and result in reduction in the value of the currency if action is not taken.

• Should We Nix Cap-And-Trade?
  October 5, 2009
  The National Journal (Expert Blogs), by Lisa Murkowski, Kevin Knobloch, Larry Schweiger, Paul Sullivan, Jon A. Anda, Rob Stavins & Robert C. Sisson
  Experts weigh in on the future of cap-and-trade legislation. Hamilton Project expert, Robert Stavins, argues that although Waxman-Markey and Kerry-Boxer are not perfect, they are a good start to climate change legislation.

• On Medicare Spending, a Role Reversal
  September 28, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Lori Montgomery
  The article states that medicare spending cuts are necessary to fund the health-reform bill and reduce long-term spending. Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Robert Reischauer, said it may be necessary to bend the curve faster than is possible with legislation.

• Employers' Hiring Plans Show Continued Anxiety About Future
  September 24, 2009
  The Washington Post, by V. Dion Haynes
  A recent survey found that employers are less likely to hire new staff in the coming year and many are still planning on freezing salaries. Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alice Rivlin says that the Washington metro area is in better shape than other metro areas because of the planned federal government hiring in the next few years.

• A New Bubble of the Fed's Creation
  September 23, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Steven Pearlstein
  The author argues that Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Alan Blinder is correct when he says it is too early for the Fed to be raising interest rates.

• The Shortlist: Reading Past and Present Financial Runes
  September 21, 2009
  The Financial Times, by Andrew Hill
  Animal Spirits by Hamilton Project expert George Akerlof and Robert Shiller was on the long-list for the for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award.

• The Case for an Employer Tax Break
  September 21, 2009
  The Wall Street Journal, by Blair W. Effron
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Blair Effron, argues that a temporary tax credit for employers willing to invest in new hires could spur job growth.

• The Wait for Financial Reform
  September 5, 2009
  The New York Times (Economic View), by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alan Blinder, believes that this is the right time for financial regulatory reform. He argues we need a systematic risk regulator, a way to rehabilitate financial institutions and a way to make the derivatives market more transparent.

• How Can President Obama Regain His Political Footing?
  August 31, 2009
  The Washington Post (Topic A), by Scott Keeter, Michael S. Berman, Newt Gingrich, Donna Brazile, Robert J. Blendon, Christine Todd Whitman, Dan Schnur, Ed Rogers, Harold Ford Jr. & Ed Gillespie
  Experts weigh in on options for President Obama to 'regain his political footing.' Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Harold Ford, Jr., believes that President Obama must first win on health care and then work on job creation, the war in Afghanistan and financial services reform.

• Cooperatives' Record Weighed in Health Care Debate
  August 27, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Steven Mufson
  In an article by Steven Mufson, Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Robert D. Reischauer, said rural electric cooperatives aren't a good model for health insurance because they provide a service no one in the public sector wants to provide and they operate in areas with very low population density.

• Real Choice? It's Off Limits in Health Bills
  August 25, 2009
  The New York Times (Economic Scene), by David Leonhardt
  Leonhardt argues that the main problem with the healthcare reform proposals is that they do not give people real choice in health care. He goes on to say that one of the proposals that actually offers people choice is Victor Fuchs and Ezekiel Emanuel's Hamilton Project discussion paper, A Comprehensive Cure: Universal Health Care Vouchers.

• Why the Fed Should Be Given More Powers
  August 24, 2009
  The Financial Times, by Roger Altman
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Roger Altman argues that the Federal Reserve should be given more regulatory power over non-bank financial institutions such as AIG.

• Hope for Cap-And-Trade?
  August 23, 2009
  The Washington Post (Topic A), by Steven F. Hayward, Kenneth P. Green, James M. Inhofe, Geoff Garin, Tony Fratto, Steve Seidel, David G. Hawkins, Harold Ford Jr., Kay Baily Hutchison and Barbara Boxer
  Experts weigh in on whether health care has derailed the possibility of climate legislation in the near future. Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Harold Ford, Jr., thinks it is possible if the president engages Congress and the public on the issue.

• Obama's Trust Problem
  August 20, 2009
  The New York Times, by Paul Krugman
  Krugman discusses the Obama administration's plan to move away from the public health insurance plan. He notes that the idea for public insurance was introduced by Hamilton Project expert Jacob Hacker.

• Is America Through the Worst of the Recession?
  August 13, 2009
  The Washington Post (Topic A), by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Alice Rivlin, Diane Lim Rogers, Kenneth Rogoff, Rudolph G. Penner & Mark Zandi
  Economists discuss whether we are through the worst of the recession. Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alice Rivlin believes the worst may be over but does not expect a quick bounce back to recovery.

• Stay the Stimulus Course
  August 11, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alan Blinder argues that much of the stimulus in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is already in place but the effects may take a while to be felt. He goes on to say that the stimulus is responsible for part of the recovery the economy is already experiencing.

• Biggest Tax Revenue Drop Since 1932
  August 3, 2009
  The Associated Press (AP Enterprise), by Stephen Ohlemacher
  The current recession is greatly reducing the amount of government tax revenue. Hamilton Project expert William Gale believes the fate of current government programs and new ones the Obama administration is proposing is tied to the recovery.

• Health Care Reform and the Unpopular T-Word
  July 28, 2009
  The New York Times (Economic Scene), by David Leonhardt
  The author argues that health benefits must be taxed to control costs. He quotes Hamilton Project expert, Jonathan Gruber who notes that the fact that health benefits are not taxed is arbitrary. The lack of a tax on employee benefits causes them to be discounted and for people to use more of them than they need.

• Health Care for the Blue Dogs
  July 28, 2009
  The Washington Post, by David Leonhardt
  Hamilton Project Expert, Jacob S. Hacker argues that the Blue Dogs are right to be concerned about the cost of Health Care but that some of their concerns are misplaced.

• The Economy Has Hit Bottom
  July 23, 2009
  The Wall Street Journal, by Alan S. Blinder
  Advisory Council member, Alan Blinder, says that the economy has hit bottom but that it will be a long time before the economy rebounds.

• Soak the Rich
  July 20, 2009
  The National Journal, by John Maggs
  Experts, including Hamilton Project experts Isabel Sawhill and William Gale, weigh in on whether to increase taxes on wealthy Americans to pay for health care.

• Do We Need Another Stimulus?
  July 13, 2009
  The Washington Post (Topic A), by Alice Rivlin, Robert Reischauer, Donna Edwards, John Boehner, Mark Zandi, Martin Feldstein, Dino Kos, Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Lanny Davis.
  Experts weigh in on whether we need another stimulus, including Hamilton Project Advisory Council members Alice Rivlin and Robert Reischauer.

• A Loophole Worth Closing
  July 11, 2009
  The New York Times, by Jonathan Gruber
  Hamilton Project expert, Joanathan Gruber, argues that employee-sponsored health care must be taxed to pay for universal health care.

• Doubts About Obama’s Economic Recovery Plan Rise Along With Unemployment
  July 8, 2009
  The New York Times, by Edmund L. Andrews
  In an article about the possibility of a second stimulus, the author references Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Laura Tyson who noted in a speech that the United States might need a second stimulus.

• Staggering Budget Gap and a Reluctance to Fit In
  July 7, 2009
  The New York Times, by Peter S. Goodman
  The article references a paper written by Alan Auerbach and Hamilton Project expert William Gale that notes that the budget outlook is troubling and dire.

• We’ll Need to Raise Taxes Soon
  June 30, 2009
  The Wall Street Journal, by Roger C. Altman
  Advisory Council member Roger Altman notes that the budget deficit is rising rapidly and argues that it will be necessary to raise taxes soon to reign in the deficit.

• Climate Change Bill Narrowly Passes in House
  June 29, 2009
  CQ Politics, by Avery Palmer & Coral Davenport
  The article on the passage of the Climate Bill in the house quotes Hamilton Project expert, Robert Stavins, who notes that the bill will have a tremendous impact on the credibility of the United States in global climate negotiations.

• Deficit Disorder
  June 25, 2009
  The Financial Times, by Jacob S. Hacker
  The budget deficit is growing rapidly and many including Advisory Council member Roger Altman are increasing concerned.

• Health Care Rationing Rhetoric Overlooks Reality
  June 17, 2009
  The New York Times (Economic Scene), by David Leonhardt
  The article references a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Hamilton Project experts, Ezekiel Emanuel and Victor Fuchs about the relationship between increased health care costs and a decrease in wage growth.

• What Would a Health Care Overhaul Cost? All Eyes on CBO
  June 11, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Lori Montgomery
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Robert Reischauer, discusses the relationship between the Congressional Budget Office and the debate on health care reform.

• Orszag: ‘Deficit Neutrality’ Key Part of Overhaul Package
  June 9, 2009
  CQ, by John Reichard
  The article discusses comments made by Senator Baucus and White House Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag at the joint Hamilton Project and Engelberg Center for Health Care event, Implementing Comparative Effectiveness Research: Priorities, Methods and Impact, at The Brookings Institution on June 9th.

• Health-Care Change Won’t Swell Deficit, Orszag Says
  June 9, 2009
  Bloomberg, by Nicole Gaouette
  OMB Director Director Peter Orszag said at the joint Hamilton Project and Engelberg Center for Health Care event on June 9, that the changes in healthcare proposed by the Obama administration, “will be deficit neutral over 10 years.”

• What to Watch
  June 9, 2009
  The Washington Post, compiled by Garance Franke-Ruta
  The column recommends the “Implementing Comparative Effectiveness Research: Priorities, Methods and Impact” event with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, former Treasury secretary and Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Robert Rubin, and Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag.

• Cash for Clunkers: A Fair Trade for the Environment
  June 2009
  Scientific American Earth 3.0, by Stephen D. Solomon
  This article discusses the merits of Cash for Clunkers programs. It references proponent of the idea Advisory Council member, Alan Blinder. It also discusses analysis on the Feinstein bill by Hamilton Project experts Jason Bordoff and Pascal Noel.

• The Wonderful Policy of Cap-and-Trade: A Closer Look at Waxman-Markey
  May 27, 2009
  Belfer Center, JFK School of Government, Harvard University, by Robert Stavins
  Hamilton Project expert, Robert Stavins, thinks that the “give-away” allowances in the Waxman-Markey bill are the correct way to allocate cap-and-trade allowances.

• Bankruptcy for G.M. Would Tax the Experts
  May 26, 2009
  The New York Times, by Micheline Maynard & Michael J. de la Merced
  This article states that a G.M. bankruptcy would create a lot of work for lawyers and consultants because of the size and complexity of the undertaking. Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Roger Altman with Evercore Partners has been aiding G.M. with financial and restructuring advice.

• Health Care, a Lesson in Pain
  May 12, 2009
  The New York Times (Economic Scene), by David Leonhardt
  Hamilton Project expert, Jonathan Gruber thinks it would be difficult to raise $90 billion for health care without taxing employer provided health care.

• Obama’s Budget Knife Yields Modest Trims
  May 7, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Lori Montgomery & Amy Goldstein
  Hamilton Project expert, Isabel Sawhill argues that the spending cuts in the Obama budget will not but much of a dent in overall spending.

• Good Government and Animal Spirits
  April 24, 2009
  The Wall Street Journal, by George A. Akerlof & Robert J. Shiller
  Robert Shiller and Hamilton Project Advisory Council Member George Akerlof, argue that the long term result of the current financial crisis should be improved regulation.

• Pointless Paperwork Is A Health Care Hurdle
  April 15, 2009
  The Harford Courant, by Robert Nelb
  Hamilton Project Innovation Prize winner, Robert Nelb discusses the need for automatic enrollment in need based health insurance programs.

• Shorting Reason
  April 15, 2009
  The New Republic, by Richard A. Posner
  A review of the new book, Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism, by Robert Shiller and Hamilton Project Advisory Council Member George Akerlof.

• Cash-for-clunkers can benefit environment and Detroit
  April 12, 2009
  The Detroit Free Press, Editorial
  The article advocates for Cash-for-Clunkers programs, similar to the one put forward by Hamilton Project expert Jason Bordoff, that offer cash vouchers to car owners in exchange for their old polluting cars that can be used toward the purchase of newer more fuel efficient vehicles.

• Restore Order and Win a Financial War
  April 11, 2009
  The New York Times, by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council Member Alan Blinders argues that Americans have a right to be angry about the financial crisis, but that we should focus on repairing the economy now and address the problems that led us to the crisis later.

• Why this will not be a normal cyclical recovery
  April 5, 2009
  Financial Times, by Roger Altman
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council Member Roger Altman believes that the rare nature of this recession prevents a normally cyclical recovery. He argues that additional spending and tax cuts will be needed in 2010 to further stimulate the economy.

• Making a Good Budget Better
  March 26, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Alice M. Rivlin
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Alice Rivlin believes Congress has a chance to make the president’s budget better by accepting its main outlines but adding steps to reduce the long-term deficits.

• After the panic of '08
  March 16, 2009
  Fortune, by Glenn Hutchins
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Glenn Hutchins discusses the causes of the financial crisis and says scientific advances and entrepreneurship will help lead us out of it.

• In Defense of Obamanomics
  March 9, 2009
  The Wall Street Journal, by Laura D’Andrea Tyson
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, Laura D’Andrea Tyson argues that the president's budget is progressive and ambitious but it will not explode the size of government, as some critics warn. She goes on to say that the real risk lies in the possibility that the economy's recovery starts later and is much weaker than the economic assumptions in the budget.

• Soaking the Rich?
  March 8, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Jim Cramer, Robert D. Reischauer, N. Gregory Mankiw, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Diane Lim Rogers, David Bonior & Laura D. Tyson
  Eonomists, former officials and others weigh in on President Obama's proposed tax increases including Hamilton Project Advisor Council members Robert Reischauer and Laura D’Andrea Tyson.

• A failure to control the animal spirits
  March 8, 2009
  The author discusses the new book Animal Spirits (Princeton 2009), he co-wrote with Hamilton Project Advisory Council member George Akerlof.

• It Can’t Last Forever
  February 28, 2009
  The New York Times, by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alan Blinder believes that growth will return in the fourth quarter of this year unless something unforeseen occurs in the economy.

• Low Cost Health Care in Howard Not an Easy Sell
  February 24, 2009
  The Washington Post, by Lori Aratani
  Hamilton Project expert, Jonathan Gruber discusses the long history of voluntary coverage programs that have failed because too few people enroll.

• Fiscal Reality
  February 22, 2009
  The Washington Post, Editorial
  The Brookings Institution's Alan J. Auerbach and Hamilton Project expert William G. Gale find that even under optimistic assumptions deficits will range between $1 trillion and $1.3 trillion, in current dollars, for the next decade.

• An Interview with George Akerlof
  February 19, 2009
  The Atlantic, by Conor Clark
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member, George Akerlof discusses his new book; Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism.

• Pay-as-you-drive bill is a win-win
  February 12, 2009
  Seattle Post-Intelligence, by Jason Bordoff & Pascal Noel
  Hamilton Project Policy Director Jason Bordoff & Research Analyst Pascal Noel explain the benefits of "pay-as-you-drive" auto insurance.

• My Economic Wish List
  February 4, 2009
  The Wall Street Journal, by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council Member Alan Blinder discusses the need for a stimulus plan that works quickly.

• Six Errors on the Path to the Financial Crisis
  January 24, 2009
  The New York Times, by Alan S. Blinder
  Hamilton Project Advisory Council member Alan Blinder discusses six preventable errors that might have mitigated the current financial crisis.

• Refuel Economy with Cash for Old Cars
  January 6, 2009
  Detroit Free Press, by Jason Bordoff
  Hamilton Project Policy Director Jason Bordoff discusses stimulating the economy by providing incentives to trade in old cars and purchase new vehicles.

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For press inquiries, please contact DJ Nordquist at djnordquist@brookings.edu.