Peter Morici
Columns by Peter Morici
Why Washington should rush more economic aid to the states
The economy is in more dire straits than Washington politicians behave, and they need to put aside their partisan agendas and fencing on Twitter to save it. Published May 25, 2020
Socialism tempts as capitalism struggles during COVID-19 pandemic
Pandemics are hardly new. What makes COVID-19 different for our political future is that we have chosen to almost completely shut down the economy to minimize causalities. Published May 19, 2020
Building an alliance to confront Chinese juggernaut
President Xi Jinping surely had motive, means and opportunity to strike a terrible blow on Western economies and legitimacy of political institutions by unleashing a pandemic. Published May 6, 2020
Are cheap coffee makers and iPhones worth the risk of more pandemics?
As with other great crises, progressives are celebrating and conservatives are dreading that coronavirus will permanently expand government spending and leverage over the national economy. Published April 29, 2020
COVID-19 will wipe out some old business models and require focus on new enterprises
The economy won't be as good as new, but it would be better refurbished than by pursuing policies premised on nostalgia for an economy long gone. Published April 22, 2020
COVID-19 exposes terrible dangers of globalization
America must respond by building stronger pandemic containment mechanisms -- albeit those that are publicly accountable and not subject to abuse -- or our democracy will simply not measure up to the challenges of globalization. Published April 16, 2020
Donald Trump’s COVID-19 (new) New Deal
Donald Trump has delivered for the voters that elected him -- and many who didn't. With the aid of an epidemic, he has forced the Washington establishment to act quickly for the benefit of ordinary working folks through the Federal Reserve and stimulus package. Published April 8, 2020
Too few babies threaten American prosperity and national security
The U.S. lifetime birth rate per woman is 1.78 -- down from 2.12 in 2007 and below the pace needed to sustain the national population without significant net immigration. Annual population and labor force growth rate has fallen to about 0.5 percent, as the Trump administration has pushed down net immigration by more than 40 percent since 2016. Published March 30, 2020
Congress’ lack of action during COVID-19 pandemic threatens another Great Depression
The global economy is again in the grip of a financial crisis and economic contraction of unknown depth and duration. Published March 24, 2020
Why reliance on competent allies and not China should be a national security imperative
Revelations about dependence on China for essential ingredients in life-saving drugs lay bare the folly of intense integration with an authoritarian regime that suppressed warnings from doctors who first detected COVID-19 and enabled the disease to spread through weeks of denial. Published March 18, 2020
If Donald Trump targets the debt-riddled Bernie Sanders’ base, he can beat Joe Biden
The stars are aligning for Joe Biden. The coalition that is abandoning Bernie Sanders for the dull but reliable war horse could put the former vice president across the finish line in November. Published March 12, 2020
How to solve the skyrocketing costs of college tuition
Student debt and skyrocketing college tuition are terrible burdens for young adults, and to win their votes Sen. Bernie Sanders promises to forgive their loans and make public colleges free. Published March 8, 2020
Narcissistic Democrats will destroy free markets and constitutional rights
Apparently, reformists can succeed in destroying free markets and our constitutional rights if they don't nominate someone so transparently radical that he frightens moderate voters. Published March 2, 2020
Donald Trump is the moderate candidate in the 2020 presidential election
Whether it's Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bloomberg or Joe Biden, the country will get a choice between a defender of the status quo ante -- Donald Trump -- and a radical vision to shake American capitalism to its foundations. Published February 21, 2020
Why the Fed’s refusal to issue digital dollars threatens national security
The Federal Reserve and Treasury oppose issuing digital dollars to ordinary citizens. That's a burden on our economy and threat to national security. Published February 17, 2020
Although optimism about the economy abounds, don’t rule out an election-year recession
Five decades of economics have taught me trouble comes when you least expect it, and the Federal Reserve, Treasury and their brethren abroad are often clueless about what to do. Published February 10, 2020
Pete Buttigieg’s Trojan horse for socialism
Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg wants us to believe he is a moderate alternative to Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren but his $1 trillion infrastructure plan is hardly enough and demonstrates he's a socialist, too. Published February 2, 2020
Why Trump deal with China is good for free trade
President Trump's Phase One trade deal may save the World Trade Organization from breakdown and takes international commerce to a better place in a world divided between democratic market and autocratic state-directed economies. Published January 24, 2020
Michael Bloomberg’s wrong answer to income inequality
Inequality and economic growth have been central themes in national elections since John Kennedy's campaign. The Clintons, Barack Obama and the latest crop headed by Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg want to give us freer access to health care, higher education (and debt forgiveness), child care and the like by taxing the wealthy. Published January 19, 2020
Economy needs Middle-class gains to re-elect Trump and deliver a Republican majority
If the election were held on Valentine's Day, President Trump would have good prospects, but next November the story may be different. Published January 11, 2020
