December 25, 2018 — I was asked for 2 or 3 end-of-year book recommendations. My choices are Pinker, Irwin & Clausing.
(The choices of others can be found at Project Syndicate or winnowed down.)
3 Book Recommendations: Openness & Progress
Author Archives: jfrankel
The Lesson from George H.W. Bush’s Tax Reversal
Dec. 13, 2018 — When President George H.W. Bush was laid to rest earlier this month, the remembrances appropriately remarked on his general decency and competence. In public commentary, the encomiums tend to be followed by a “but.” For journalists and historians, it is “but he was only a one-term president.” He lost the election of 1992, in part because of the recession of 1990-91. For members of his own political party, the “but” is, “but he broke with the legacy of Ronald Reagan and with his own ‘no new taxes’ pledge.” They have always blamed his failure to win re-election on that perceived betrayal.
Gopinath follows Obstfeld at the IMF, in a great tradition
Dec. 10, 2018 — Maury Obstfeld this month completes his exemplary term as Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund. His departing economic outlook foresees slowing growth in the world economy in 2019 and 2020.
Gita Gopinath, my Harvard colleague, will take up the position in the new year.