A collection of articles related to the intensifying trade war between the USA and the rest of the world.
Productivity has many measures, but none of them lead to an automatic increase of leisure time for workers. In fact, they are in no way related. You have to fight and win leisure time just as you would wage increases.
Reclassifying profit subsidies as capital spending might be fun, but it is not serious policy and it will not result in the investment Canadians need.
Every conversation we are having about regulations and barriers to trade or productivity are complex. That complexity means that following the rhetoric on deregulation has unintended consequences as much as regulations have.
Increased automation of back office, management, and sales services are not guaranteed to have positive outcomes for companies or society. However, some negative outcomes are rather well known at this point and work should be done so they are avoided.
There are massive differences in the industrial strategies from the left and those promoted by the new conservative movement circling Trump. It is essential for the movement's leadership to articulate the difference for workers. A right wing version industrial policies will only lead to war, domestic conflict, stagnant wages, inflation, and capital profiteering from misery.
There are indications that the mess that occurred since the election of Trump in the USA has returned valuations to where it started. The difference now is that we are living through a much more volatile world, so it is a now not about growth, but downside risk.
The political narrative around Trump is that he does not want global conflict and war. However, it is clear Trump has no plan to affect the current conflicts raging that he promised to end within days of being elected.
Understanding the difference between harmful and useful regulation is essential for the left. But, focusing on supposed inefficiency of government does not get us there.
One thing that will be interesting to watch during this tariff and investment war the USA has launched against the world is how it will affect prices.
The capitalist economy of the USA requires large amounts of debt to operate effectively. That debt does not just need to be accessible to new, starting companies and consumers making large purchases, but also to already (highly) indebted companies and consumers. Competition and lack of real pay growth means that the only way to finance growth is through debt spending.
