Peter Morici
Columns by Peter Morici
How a V-shaped economic recovery could happen
The U.S. economy is displaying remarkable resilience, and a V-shaped recovery could take shape if Congress and the administration can agree on another, well-targeted stimulus package soon. Published June 23, 2020
With reforms the World Trade Organization is worth saving, but only if China plays by the rules
Director-General Roberto Azevedo is quitting one year before his term expires. This could prove the death knell for the World Trade Organization, but if the Trump administration plays it right, the global trade body could be set on a more constructive path. Published June 16, 2020
Liberal reforms and flawed union model are root causes of police brutality
No Democrat dares criticize unions, and Mr. Biden makes no mention of fixing the collective-bargaining mess that gave us the terrible tragedy in Minneapolis but without that he won't have any more success than Mr. Trump. Published June 15, 2020
COVID-19 forces major universities to rethink traditional learning methods
Without a COVID-19 vaccine and with social distancing essential, large lectures simply aren't possible but the costs of tripling the number of sections and providing safe residential facilities are even more daunting. Published June 8, 2020
Fed needs electronic currency to quickly distribute funds and avert a depression
The American economy is nearing the apocalypse. Published June 2, 2020
Why Washington should rush more economic aid to the states
The economy is in more dire straits than Washington politicians behave, and they need to put aside their partisan agendas and fencing on Twitter to save it. Published May 25, 2020
Socialism tempts as capitalism struggles during COVID-19 pandemic
Pandemics are hardly new. What makes COVID-19 different for our political future is that we have chosen to almost completely shut down the economy to minimize causalities. Published May 19, 2020
Building an alliance to confront Chinese juggernaut
President Xi Jinping surely had motive, means and opportunity to strike a terrible blow on Western economies and legitimacy of political institutions by unleashing a pandemic. Published May 6, 2020
Are cheap coffee makers and iPhones worth the risk of more pandemics?
As with other great crises, progressives are celebrating and conservatives are dreading that coronavirus will permanently expand government spending and leverage over the national economy. Published April 29, 2020
COVID-19 will wipe out some old business models and require focus on new enterprises
The economy won't be as good as new, but it would be better refurbished than by pursuing policies premised on nostalgia for an economy long gone. Published April 22, 2020
COVID-19 exposes terrible dangers of globalization
America must respond by building stronger pandemic containment mechanisms -- albeit those that are publicly accountable and not subject to abuse -- or our democracy will simply not measure up to the challenges of globalization. Published April 16, 2020
Donald Trump’s COVID-19 (new) New Deal
Donald Trump has delivered for the voters that elected him -- and many who didn't. With the aid of an epidemic, he has forced the Washington establishment to act quickly for the benefit of ordinary working folks through the Federal Reserve and stimulus package. Published April 8, 2020
Too few babies threaten American prosperity and national security
The U.S. lifetime birth rate per woman is 1.78 -- down from 2.12 in 2007 and below the pace needed to sustain the national population without significant net immigration. Annual population and labor force growth rate has fallen to about 0.5 percent, as the Trump administration has pushed down net immigration by more than 40 percent since 2016. Published March 30, 2020
Congress’ lack of action during COVID-19 pandemic threatens another Great Depression
The global economy is again in the grip of a financial crisis and economic contraction of unknown depth and duration. Published March 24, 2020
Why reliance on competent allies and not China should be a national security imperative
Revelations about dependence on China for essential ingredients in life-saving drugs lay bare the folly of intense integration with an authoritarian regime that suppressed warnings from doctors who first detected COVID-19 and enabled the disease to spread through weeks of denial. Published March 18, 2020
If Donald Trump targets the debt-riddled Bernie Sanders’ base, he can beat Joe Biden
The stars are aligning for Joe Biden. The coalition that is abandoning Bernie Sanders for the dull but reliable war horse could put the former vice president across the finish line in November. Published March 12, 2020
How to solve the skyrocketing costs of college tuition
Student debt and skyrocketing college tuition are terrible burdens for young adults, and to win their votes Sen. Bernie Sanders promises to forgive their loans and make public colleges free. Published March 8, 2020
Narcissistic Democrats will destroy free markets and constitutional rights
Apparently, reformists can succeed in destroying free markets and our constitutional rights if they don't nominate someone so transparently radical that he frightens moderate voters. Published March 2, 2020
Donald Trump is the moderate candidate in the 2020 presidential election
Whether it's Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Michael Bloomberg or Joe Biden, the country will get a choice between a defender of the status quo ante -- Donald Trump -- and a radical vision to shake American capitalism to its foundations. Published February 21, 2020
Why the Fed’s refusal to issue digital dollars threatens national security
The Federal Reserve and Treasury oppose issuing digital dollars to ordinary citizens. That's a burden on our economy and threat to national security. Published February 17, 2020
