SPOTLIGHT: U.S. Economy

Reuters/Brendan McDermid - A man demonstrates in New York City.
Isabel V. Sawhill, January 29, 2010
Following the release of President Obama's budget, Isabel Sawhill believes there will be a lot of hand-wringing about the possible economic fallout from a virtually unprecedented accumulation of debt. Not only will this string of future deficits have dire economic consequences, she says, but will also reduce public confidence in their government. Ultimately, the budget’s insufficient proposals suggest that the current administration will be criticized for moving the goal posts on deficit reduction and for doing far too little to restore fiscal balance.
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U.S. Economy, Budget Deficit, U.S. Congress, U.S. Politics
SPOTLIGHT: The Presidency

Reuters/Pool New - President Obama walks down the center aisle before the State of the Union address.
Gary Burtless, January 28, 2010
President Obama used the word “jobs” 23 times in his State of the Union address. Gary Burtless states that this emphasis is understandable given that unemployment has risen more steeply than in any period since the Great Depression. The president correctly identified the policies that have prevented the recession from metastasizing into a depression, and defended the need for Congress to go further in rebuilding the economy.
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The Presidency, Unemployment, U.S. Politics, U.S. Economy
SPOTLIGHT: Global Economics

Reuters/Denis Balibouse - Schwab founder and Executive Chairman of WEF at a news conference at the WEF headquarters in Cologny.
Raj M. Desai and James Raymond Vreeland, January 26, 2010
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, global cooperation is at the top of the agenda. As the governance of international organizations is at odds with the global distribution of economic power, this goal for Davos could prove difficult. Brookings expert Raj Desai and Georgetown University Professor James Raymond Vreeland discuss global governance issues among economic institutions and urge that regional organizations might be the best path for economic governance.
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Global Economics, Global Governance, International Organizations, International Finance, Global Financial Crisis