Stories Tagged as
Government spending
U.S. debt is hitting historic heights. How much of a problem is that?
Sep 3, 2020
The last time the deficit was this high, as a percentage of the total economy, was 1946.
Which businesses should governments bail out during COVID-19?
May 21, 2020
The speed at which governments are having to decide which companies to offer assistance to has echoes of the 2008 financial crisis.
Why the Chamber of Commerce is making a case for bipartisanship
by
Kai Ryssdal
and Sean McHenry
Jan 14, 2019
The Chamber of Commerce wants lawmakers to end the shutdown. And to do it, they'll need to reach across the aisle.
Paying lip service to the deficit
Nov 8, 2018
Politicians have been pretty quiet lately about the $800 billion budget deficit. That's about to change.
How much U.S. debt is too much?
Oct 16, 2018
Balancing the federal budget is a bigger deal for politicians than economists.
How much U.S. debt is too much?
Oct 16, 2018
Balancing the federal budget is a bigger deal for politicians than economists.
Here’s how deficit-inducing tax cuts lead to trade deficits
Sep 5, 2018
The U.S. trade deficit in July surged to a five-month high, $50.1 billion, as exports of products like soybeans and civilian aircraft fell, while imports reached record levels. President Donald Trump regularly complains about trade deficits, but his own spending policies tend to undermine the goal of lowering the trade gap. One part of the […]
For public good, not for profit.
Why budgets of federal agencies are “use-it-or-lose-it”
Mar 27, 2018
Federal agencies are now trying to figure out how to spend billions of dollars in the next six months. President Donald Trump signed the $1.3 trillion spending bill Congress sent him last week, unleashing funding for fiscal year 2018, which is already half over. It’s a use-it-or-lose it situation for federal agencies. Click the audio player […]
On infrastructure, Donald Trump has a math problem
Feb 12, 2018
Today, the White House outlined a $1.5 trillion plan to deal with our nation’s infrastructure problems — everything from waterways to highways to commercial space infrastructure. But the federal government plans to provide just $200 billion of that $1.5 trillion. Where would the rest come from? Mostly from state and local governments, who already feel burdened […]
Hey, what’s going on in the economy?
by
Kai Ryssdal
Feb 9, 2018
Five days of volatile markets, a five-hour government shutdown and one budget bill later ...