Topic: Martin Feldstein

Tax VOX
Washington dances away from the fiscal cliff

Democrats and Republicans may say they're far apart, but both sides are looking for a deal on the fiscal cliff, Gleckman writes.

Economist Mom
Romney, Obama and the long, partisan road to tax reform

When it comes to tax reform, there is a lot of common ground, but still many differences, between Romney's approach and Obama's approach, Rogers writes.

Stocks plunge: four factors behind investor pessimism

The stock market is tanking. At midday Aug. 4, the Dow had fallen 300 points. The bond market is also beginning to growl like a bear. Investors are buying long-dated bonds while eschewing shorter-term securities to protect their assets, a clear indication that they feel the economy is likely to weaken further. High-profile economists are also turning gloomy. Former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers put the chances of another recession at 1-in-3; Harvard economist Martin Feldstein put it at 1-in-2. What's behind all the pessimism? Here are four big factors that are weighing on stocks and could determine the course of the global economy in the coming months:

Inside Job: movie review

Matt Damon narrates 'Inside Job,' a meticulous exploration of what led to the crash of 2008.

Growthology
To avoid the double-dip, (1) lower taxes, (2) raise taxes. Huh?

Some economists propose lowering payroll taxes and then raising marginal rate taxes. Here's another perspective.

Tax VOX
Feldstein says don’t make the Bush tax cuts permanent

Conservative economist Martin Feldstein argues that extending the Bush tax cuts for two years would provide time for a reexamination of the tax code before 2012. The Obama administration should take note.

Is comparing medical treatments akin to 'rationing' care?

Bills in Congress call for panels to conduct 'comparative effectiveness research.' Opponents say it could be the first step to government allocation of healthcare resources.

The New Economy
Palin misses mark on cap-and-trade critique

The New Economy
How stimulus bill reignited the partisan divide

Deficit projection 'stuns' Congress

Red-ink forecast could make it a lot harder to craft an economic stimulus package.

Obama's case for action

Spending big on the economy is less risky than doing too little, he asserted Thursday.

Defense spending as 'stimulus'?

Pentagon's generous budget is not likely to see cuts soon, even if Iraq war starts to wind down.

Who advises candidates on economic crisis?

Both pick mainstream experts, but Obama’s are more interventionist.

How economy looks to the man who wrote the book

Nobel laureate Paul Samuelson blames crisis partly on 'fiendish' financial engineering on Wall Street.

Imports fall, improving U.S. trade balance

The shift reflects consumer stress, but it could help boost US manufacturers.

Profile of a (maybe) recession

Some analysts think the slowdown may be confined largely to the housing market.

Now, economy tops war in election

Indicators like high oil prices and the slumping stock market have voters concerned.

As economy lags, what levers to pull?

Pressure is mounting for the US government to act soon to prevent a recession.