Economic Policy and Labor Market Commentary by Dean Baker
Biden brought U.S. inflation down by 2025, Dean Baker argues
Dean Baker states that U.S. President Joe Biden has brought pandemic-related inflation close to the Federal Reserve's target by 2025, while suggesting that U.S. President Donald Trump had ...
Dean Baker: Stock market will crash leaving Elon Musk and Larry Ellison in poverty
Dean Baker predicts that the stock market will crash, leading to a scenario where Elon Musk and Larry Ellison are left in poverty. The comment suggests a dramatic downturn in market fortunes for ...
Stock market decline could erase major fortunes, Dean Baker notes
Dean Baker suggests that a sharp decline in the stock market would have significant repercussions for major investors, specifically naming Elon Musk and Larry Ellison. The comment implies that ...
Dean Baker: Moody's and S&P rated subprime MBS as investment grade
Dean Baker criticizes major credit rating agencies Moody's and S&P for classifying hundreds of billions of subprime mortgage-backed securities as investment grade. He suggests these agencies were ...
AI firm valuations may be peaking, Dean Baker notes
Dean Baker observes that financial activity in artificial intelligence firms appears to be increasingly volatile. He suggests this trend could be an indication that the market’s rapid growth is ...
Dean Baker: Describes transaction as normal for profitable company with strong balance sheet
Dean Baker comments that a transaction like this is a normal occurrence for a company that is profitable and maintains a healthy balance sheet. The statement implies confidence in the company's ...
U.S. trade deficit has risen while Trump ignores facts, Dean Baker argues
Dean Baker points out that the U.S. trade deficit has risen. He adds that this increase does not seem to concern U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Baker describes as ignoring ...
Dean Baker: Trade deficit in goods is higher than when U.S. President Donald Trump took office
Dean Baker points out that the trade deficit in goods is currently higher than when U.S. President Donald Trump assumed office. He suggests it is fortunate for the current administration that the ...
Big money finance types are not into numbers, Dean Baker notes
Dean Baker suggests that some in the finance industry do not prioritize numerical analysis. His comments imply a criticism of how financial professionals may overlook quantitative ...
Dean Baker: Bubble collapse likely to trigger recession
Dean Baker warns that the collapse of a significant economic bubble is likely to result in a severe recession. His comments point to concerns about the fallout from rapid economic expansion and ...
News coverage on declining young homeownership rates is lacking, Dean Baker argues
Dean Baker questions the lack of news stories about young people giving up on homeownership now that their ownership rates have genuinely declined. He contrasts this with earlier periods when ...
Dean Baker: Questions raised about Trump’s financial benefit in Paramount-Warner merger
Dean Baker raises questions regarding how much U.S. President Donald Trump may be profiting from the Paramount-Warner merger. He also comments on the expected settlement of President Donald ...
Anthropic moves to IPO before market reassesses AI risks, Dean Baker argues
Dean Baker suggests that Anthropic is expediting its initial public offering to get ahead of possible disruptions in the artificial intelligence sector. He implies that the company is moving ...
Dean Baker: Big investors raise questions on AI exposure
Dean Baker highlights that major investors are questioning their exposure to artificial intelligence. The comment underscores the growing scrutiny and need for transparency in investment ...
Diesel hits record $5.97 and may reach $6.00 soon, Dean Baker notes
Dean Baker reports that diesel prices have reached a new record high of $5.97 per gallon. Baker adds that Bessent anticipates the price will hit $6.00 by the end of the ...
Dean Baker: Tesla shares 10% below 2021 peak as five-year returns lag
Dean Baker highlights that Tesla's share price is currently 10% lower than its peak in October of 2021, resulting in a -10% return for stockholders over five years, given the company pays no ...
Trade deficit soared in July amid Trump criticism of Biden, Dean Baker notes
Dean Baker comments that the trade deficit soared in July. He points out that U.S. President Donald Trump appears uncertain about whether he intended to raise or lower the deficit, and instead ...
Dean Baker: Privatizing Social Security would benefit financial industry and drive inefficiency
Dean Baker claims that privatizing Social Security would introduce significant waste and inefficiency into the system. He asserts that such a shift would ultimately result in trillions of dollars ...
Lower capital gains tax rates unlikely top concern for workers, Dean Baker argues
Dean Baker mocks the idea that lower capital gains tax rates are a key demand of U.S. workers. His comment highlights skepticism toward the notion that taxation on investment income is a primary ...
Dean Baker: Tariff revenue plan cannot offset $2 trillion U.S. deficit
Dean Baker criticizes the economic logic behind a proposal to pay down debt using $100 billion annually in tariff revenue while the U.S. is running a $2 trillion deficit. He argues that the math ...
U.S. GDP is 11 times larger, Dean Baker notes
Dean Baker contrasts the economic scale of the U.S. and Canada, stating that U.S. GDP is actually 11 times larger than Canada. He suggests that Canada has an advantage in arithmetic, ...
