Economy Nov 28 Column: We don’t need Washington to fix bloated CEO pay There are clear channels that people can use to put downward pressure on the pay of those at the top in both the corporate and noncorporate sector that don’t require going through Washington.
Economy Nov 18 Column: Why don’t we have free trade for highly paid professions in the U.S.? Most people are probably not aware of the extraordinary level of protectionism that benefits doctors and, to a lesser extent, other highly paid professionals in our own country. And we pay a huge price for this protectionism.
Economy Oct 28 Column: How intellectual property rules help the rich and hurt the poor It is not the technology that determines who gets the benefits of major innovations; it is laws that govern technology, which in turn are made by politicians. Specifically, the laws on patents and intellectual property more generally will determine whether…
Economy Jun 24 Column: In the wake of Brexit, will the EU finally turn away from austerity? Europe's bleak economic performance was not dictated by the gods. It was the result of the conscious decision by the EU leadership to turn towards austerity in 2010.
Economy Nov 09 Column: Why the cure for a sluggish economy is actually longer vacations What if we could boost the economy with longer vacations? Or with paid family leave? With shorter workweeks?…
Economy Jul 23 Why the Fed’s policy on interest rates is key to fighting poverty Rarely mentioned in discussions of poverty is the Federal Reserve Board’s policy on interest rates, which has an enormous impact on the rate of economic growth and the level of unemployment.
Nation Dec 08 Good news for the Affordable Care Act in jobs reports In the wake of November's jobs report, Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, argues that the Affordable Care Act is allowing more young parents to choose to stay at home with their kids.
Economy Jan 31 Ben Bernanke’s legacy: A critique from the left As Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke closes out his term, how will he be remembered? In the first of several economists' perspectives, Dean Baker sees a checkered legacy.