Introduction: Strengthening America’s Economic Dynamism
Global tensions and domestic discontent are driving a new era of economic policymaking. Leaders in both parties are turning away from free-market principles and endorsing an increase in protectionist trade policies and more active government-directed industrial policy. Further, these disruptions come when the country’s economic and political landscapes face systemic difficulties including limited state capacity ...
TIME Magazine: High Debt Threatens the U.S. Economy
The difficulty U.S. Congress has had agreeing on spending for this year and avoiding a government shutdown is an indication of just how hard it will be to deal with our longer term debt crisis. Our rising debt burden is a problem we must confront in order to preserve our nation’s ability to address the ...
Aspen Economic Strategy Group Welcomes New Members
Aspen Economic Strategy Group Welcomes New Members Leading policymakers, business executives, and academics join bipartisan group dedicated to promoting evidence-based solutions to America’s economic challenges. WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 12, 2025 – The Aspen Economic Strategy Group (AESG) today announced that eleven new members have joined the bipartisan group of distinguished leaders and thinkers who are ...
Key Takeaways from “After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People”
On July 9th, 2025, the Aspen Economic Strategy Group hosted economists Michael Geruso and Dean Spears for a conversation on their new book, After the Spike: Population, Progress, and the Case for People. In After the Spike, Geruso and Spears examine the decline in global birth rates and consider what a drop in the global ...
Beyond the Myths: A Clearer Path to Poverty Alleviation in America
In “Beyond the Myths: A Clearer Path to Poverty Alleviation in America,” Melissa S. Kearney and James Sullivan reassess poverty trends and policy responses in the United States. They document that, contrary to common perceptions, poverty has declined substantially over the past four decades and that anti-poverty programs have played a central role in this ...
Aligning High-Skilled Immigration Policy with National Strategy
The United States’ innovative edge depends on its ability to draw on the best talent from around the world. However, the laws that govern high-skilled immigration are outdated and misaligned with the needs of today’s economy. Only a small share of green cards, which provide immigrants permanent resident status in the United States, are allocated ...
Advancing America’s Prosperity
The United States stands at a pivotal moment in economic policymaking. Sweeping domestic legislation changes, rising geopolitical tensions, and rapid advances in artificial intelligence have fueled a high degree of uncertainty about economic conditions, for both households and businesses. These developments also raise urgent questions about how best to safeguard and advance America’s prosperity and ...
Introduction: Advancing America’s Prosperity
The United States stands at a pivotal moment in economic policymaking. The Trump administration has profoundly reshaped America’s approach to international economics, adopting a more confrontational stance on trade and retreating from long-standing multilateral agreements. In April 2025, the Trump administration announced tariffs on goods from every US trading partner, ranging from 11 to 50 percent, ...
Current Evidence on Household Financial Well-Being
Despite strong economic conditions, survey data reveal substantial economic worry and discontent among Americans. Pew survey data from 2024 indicated that “strengthening the economy” was Americans’ top policy priority, above “defending against terrorism,” “reducing crime,” and “dealing with immigration” (Pew 2024). A separate Pew survey from that same year found that only 53 percent of ...