Brookings Podcast on Economic Activity

How can we improve noisy labor market data?

Data on labor markets is incredibly important to policymakers, from state and federal legislators to the central bank and Treasury Department. But this data is often nois

Why is the U.S. outpacing European countries in AI adoption?

The promise and peril of an AI-dominated future have dominated debates among economists, technologists, and policymakers in recent years. But even as the technology conti

Why haven't tariffs significantly damaged the economy?

The tariff increases during the second Trump administration have been historic in their magnitude and scope, dwarfing even those from Trump's first term. Many feared that

Why is spending on health care slowing?

In 2010, the U.S. government projected that Americans would spend about $6 trillion dollars on health care, a little over 21% of GDP, in 2024. The actual amount spent was

How long will China's real estate crisis last?

China's real estate sector and infrastructure account for nearly one-third of economic demand in China. Plus, Chinese households allocate far more of their wealth to hous

How can the Fed reduce its balance sheet?

Since the Great Financial Crisis of 2008, the Federal Reserve has amassed roughly $6.6 trillion in assets, primarily in the form of Treasury securities and government-gua

Has the CHIPS Act created jobs?

The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 included funds for billions of dollars in federal investments in U.S.-based manufacturing, a major landmark in the history of America's

Is the neutral rate of interest going to start climbing after years of decline?

Monetary and fiscal policymakers use a variety of metrics to inform their decisions, but among the most important is the neutral rate of interest, also known by economist

What jobs will be most affected by AI?

Throughout history, human work has been augmented by technology. But the emergence of artificial intelligence tools have led many to ask whether an unprecedented shift in

Are fertility rates falling because of social comparisons?

Fertility rates are falling in many countries around the world, with births failing to keep pace with deaths in nearly half of countries. Researchers believe it's possibl

How much is climate change costing US households?

Studies of the economic impacts of climate change often look at long-term, national costs. A new BPEA study takes a different approach, focusing on the current household

How do tariffs hurt the dollar?

Roughly two thirds of countries on Earth stabilize their currency against the U.S. dollar. The relationship has benefits in both directions: Smaller countries enjoy bette

Do American workers still move to find work?

Interstate migration has declined in the U.S. in recent decades, suggesting that workers are less likely to move in order to find employment. Such a trend would have sign

Was the economic recovery from COVID-19 unique?

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck national economies like a hammer. As the disease spread, workers went home, businesses were empty, and economic indicators cra

What is driving up housing costs across the US?

Housing prices nationally are at an all-time high, including in many metro areas that were previously considered affordable alternatives to coastal markets. While prices

How does the Federal Reserve affect the Treasury market?

At around $900 billion in transactions daily, the market for U.S. Treasuries is massive, not only in terms of quantity but also in terms of importance to the U.S. and glo

Why does the US have a trade deficit?

The U.S. trade deficit has long been a source of political consternation, but it has come to the forefront in recent weeks. Just a few months into Donald Trump's second t

How will the Federal Reserve revise its monetary policy framework in 2025?

The Federal Reserve's "Statement on Longer-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy"—commonly referred to as its monetary policy framework—is composed of guiding principles

How will the clean energy transition affect wages?

The clean energy transition has quietly pushed ahead in recent decades, with solar and wind energy accounting for almost 15% of total U.S. energy production in February 2

How does Congress react to budget deficit projections?

Fiscal deficit projections are used by policymakers to understand the trajectory of U.S. debt. Between 1984 and 2003, Congress was responsive to these projections, raisin