Skip to main content

Curated by Project Syndicate

Goodbye, ZIRP?

12 commentaries

The US Federal Reserve is considering raising interest rates for the first time since the global financial crisis erupted in 2008. Is monetary tightening premature, given the real state of the US economy, and how will it affect the now-struggling emerging world?

Sort by: Show:
  1. The World When the Fed Raises Rates
    Janet Yellen Bao Dandan/ZumaPress

    The World When the Fed Raises Rates

    Sep 10, 2015 Martin Feldkircher, et al. explain why US monetary tightening will affect different countries differently.

  2. Fed Up with the Fed
    Janet Yellen federal reserve Yin Bogu/ZumaPress

    Fed Up with the Fed

    Sep 7, 2015 Joseph E. Stiglitz asks why US policymakers are considering an interest-rate hike at a time of below-target inflation.

  3. Inflation, the Fed, and the Big Picture
    balloons Tolga Akmen/ZumaPress

    Inflation, the Fed, and the Big Picture

    Sep 3, 2015 Carmen M. Reinhart argues that the real threat nowadays, especially in the advanced economies, is declining prices.

  4. Globalized Crisis
    friendship Trina Alexander/Flickr

    Globalized Crisis

    Sep 3, 2015 Harold James explores the dark side of connecting far-flung people and economies.

  5. Will Americans Become Poorer?
    Wall Street New York City Sergi Reboredo/ZumaPress

    Will Americans Become Poorer?

    Aug 31, 2015 Martin Feldstein takes on Robert Gordon's thesis that US economic growth will remain permanently subdued.

  6. The US Still Runs the World
    Xi Jinping and Barack Obama Rao Aimin/ZumaPress

    The US Still Runs the World

    Aug 28, 2015 Simon Johnson points out that China's troubles represent only the latest affirmation of US global leadership.

  1. deryugina2_ANATOLII STEPANOVAFP via Getty Images_ukraine ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s Best Hope for Peace Is to Support Ukraine

    Tatyana Deryugina, et al. warn that trying to appease Putin could cast the American president-elect as a modern-day Neville Chamberlain.
  2. picture alliance/Getty Images

    Should Ukraine Have Nuclear Weapons?

    Slavoj Žižek dismisses the idea that firing Western missiles at Russian targets represents a dangerous escalation.
  3. fischer122_NurPhotoGettyImages_berlin_wall_35th_leaders1 NurPhoto/Getty Images

    The End of the Liberal West

    Joschka Fischer considers what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for Europe and the post-war world order.
  4. op_disparte1_SadikDemirozGetty Images_digitaldollar FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s Inflationary Triple Threat

    Maurice Obstfeld

    Contrary to the claims of techno-libertarians like Elon Musk, independent central banks have a decades-long record of successfully controlling inflation. Yet, as the Federal Reserve’s credibility and oversight capabilities become more critical than ever, US President-elect Donald Trump’s policies threaten to undermine them.

    warns that the incoming administration’s agenda would weaken the Fed and destabilize the financial system.
  5. BP trump china MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images

    What Will Trump Do About China?

    US President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to take a confrontational approach to China, with tariffs as his weapon of choice. But unless his administration adopts a measured approach, his plans may end up harming American businesses and consumers, undermining US democracy, or even leading to military confrontation.

  6. 0

    The Big Picture

  7. karman1_getty images_cooperation Getty Images

    Human Progress in the Trump Era

    Tawakkol Karman, et al. propose ways to foster a culture of cooperation at a time of rising conflict and democratic erosion.
  8. frankel166_JemalCountessGettyImages_national_debt Jemal Countess/Getty Images

    Elon Musk’s $2 Trillion Fiscal Fantasy

    Jeffrey Frankel dives into the incoming US administration’s absurd claim that fresh tax cuts will not increase the deficit.
  9. buchholz21_getty images_us china Getty Images

    The Deal Trump Should Offer China

    Todd G. Buchholz proposes that the incoming US administration push for a debt write-off and market access instead of tariffs.

Edit Newsletter Preferences

Set up Notification

To receive email updates regarding this {entity_type}, please enter your email below.

If you are not already registered, this will create a PS account for you. You should receive an activation email shortly.