Optimist Economy

• The U.S. is in the Hole. Will We Stop Digging?

  The national debt is $36 trillion — a panic-inducing big number. So maybe it will help to understand how the U.S. ran up that debt. We’ve blown 37% of it on tax cuts, with precious little to show for that. But 28% went to stabilize the economy during two major crises (in ’08-’09 and during the COVID pandemic), which is when you do want the federal government to pull out its credit card. Good news is we don’t have to get the debt to zero. We just need to get pointed in that direction. And for listeners who’ve been waiting for MMT (Modern Monetary Theory) to make a cameo, that moment has arrived.Support Optimist Economy by becoming a paid Substack subscriber here, or by making a contribution at https://buymeacoffee.com/optimisteconomyComplete show notes with links to articles and data at optimisteconomy.com.You can also find Optimist Economy on:TikTokYouTubeInstagram

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• College Rules! But Student Loans are a Hot Mess!

  The U.S. government makes student loans because our economy benefits enormously: Improved human capital. Higher earnings for taxpayers. Innovation and productivity gains. (Side note: Education has also been a $50 billion per year “export” because so many international students come here.) Meanwhile, colleges are basically getting blank checks for whatever tuition prices they pull out of the air. So there’s all this upside for the government and cash flowing to colleges, but student borrowers are left holding the bag. We can do better, and in a way that preserves what makes the American college experience great for students and the country.Support us by becoming a paid Substack subscriber here, or by making a contribution at https://buymeacoffee.com/optimisteconomyComplete show notes with links to articles and data at optimisteconomy.com.You can also find Optimist Economy on:TikTokYouTubeInstagram

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• Optimist Lightning Round: The Economist Takes Your Questions

  Kathryn answers listeners’ economic questions, with Robin’s stopwatch running. In under an hour, we cover risks to U.S. economic data, college tuition, taxes, bonds, degrowth, mortgages, tariffs vs. income taxes, wealth concentration, and why the future can’t be built on lies. Finally, for those of you not from Wisconsin, do you know how to pronounce Waukesha? Because Robin sure didn’t. And apparently it’s not Wauke$ha, either. You can also find Optimist Economy on:TikTokYouTubeInstagramSubstackSupport us by becoming a paid Substack subscriber, or by making a contribution at https://buymeacoffee.com/optimisteconomy

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• The Invisible Hand Doesn’t Want to Change Diapers

  Child care is exhibit A that not everything can be solved by private marketplaces. It is too expensive and too scarce — and nothing will change that fact. (Maybe you’ve heard someone say that preschool costs more than state university tuition? True in 38 states.) Even among those who think that there’s a role for the government to play in early childhood care, there are still very strong disagreements about what public support should look like and who it should go to. This is a sequel of sorts to our conversation last week about U.S. birth rates last week and the demographics that might force big policy changes in the years to come.You can also find Optimist Economy on:TikTokYouTubeInstagramSubstack Support us by becoming a paid Substack subscriber or at https://buymeacoffee.com/optimisteconomy

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• A Family Bill for a Shrinking U.S.

  The declining birth rate in the United States is often discussed not only as a major demographic shift, but as a looming economic disaster. Ideas being pitched to the White House include a $5,000 baby bonus for new parents and (truly) giving medals to women who have a half-dozen babies. But what are the real contours of this supposed crisis? Indeed, if we haven’t done anything to remove the constraints on having kids, can we call it a crisis at all?You can also find Optimist Economy on:TikTokYouTubeInstagramSubstackSupport us by becoming a paid Substack subscriber or at https://buymeacoffee.com/optimisteconomy

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