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Gernot Wagner

Gernot Wagner

30 commentaries

Gernot Wagner is a climate economist at Columbia Business School.

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  1. The Climate Policy Pendulum
    wagner31_Westend61Getty Images_climatependulum Westend61/Getty Images

    The Climate Policy Pendulum

    Jan 16, 2025 Gernot Wagner notes that green technologies retain their many advantages, regardless of national political developments.

  2. What Will Trump’s Victory Mean for the Climate?
    wagner30_HoustonChronicleHearstNewspapersGettyImages_us_solar_plant_danger Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty Images

    What Will Trump’s Victory Mean for the Climate?

    Nov 8, 2024 Gernot Wagner notes that the president-elect’s proposed policies will mainly harm America, not the global energy transition.

  3. The Best Climate Policy Puts Carrots Before Sticks
    schnitzer1_Michael P. FarrellAlbany Times Union via Getty Images_solarpanelsUS Michael P. Farrell/Albany Times Union via Getty Images

    The Best Climate Policy Puts Carrots Before Sticks

    Aug 8, 2024 Monika Schnitzer & Gernot Wagner show how the sequencing of positive and negative inducements can make all the difference.

  4. Averting Climate Catastrophe Requires Economic Growth
    terzi6_green transition degrowth Getty Images

    Averting Climate Catastrophe Requires Economic Growth

    May 1, 2024 Alessio Terzi & Gernot Wagner show why shrinking the global economy, as envisaged by advocates of degrowth, is a bad way to cut emissions.

  5. The Right Response to China’s Electric-Vehicle Subsidies
    wagner28_ PEDRO PARDOAFP via Getty Images_yellen PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images

    The Right Response to China’s Electric-Vehicle Subsidies

    Apr 5, 2024 Gernot Wagner & Shang-Jin Wei explains why the United States and the European Union are considering tariffs – and why that’s a bad idea.

  1. oneill128in McNameeGetty Images_trump Win McNamee/Getty Images

    There Goes America

    Within his first month back in the White House, Donald Trump has upended US foreign policy and launched an all-out assault on the country’s constitutional order. With US institutions bowing or buckling as the administration takes executive power to unprecedented extremes, the establishment of an authoritarian regime cannot be ruled out.

  2. op_janeway18_DrAfter123Getty Images_AI DrAfter123/Getty Images

    In AI We Trust?

    William H. Janeway

    The rapid advance of AI might create the illusion that we have created a form of algorithmic intelligence capable of understanding us as deeply as we understand one another. But these systems will always lack the essential qualities of human intelligence.

    explains why even cutting-edge innovations are not immune to the world’s inherent unpredictability.
  3. strain36_Michael M. SantiagoGettyImages_ny_stock_exchange Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    How Trump Can Achieve Sustained Growth

    Michael R. Strain foresees the US president building on a strong economy, so long as he steers clear of populist policies.
  4. schwarzer9_Telmo PintoSOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_macronstarmer Telmo Pinto/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Europe Alone

    Daniela Schwarzer

    US Vice President J.D. Vance's speech at this year's Munich Security Conference made it clear that the long postwar era of Atlanticism is over, and that Europeans now must take their sovereignty into their own hands. With ample resources to do so, all that is required is the collective political will.

    explains what the European Union must do now that America has walked away from the transatlantic relationship.
  5. woods61_Alex WongGettyImages_imf_walking Alex Wong/Getty Images

    What If the US Leaves the IMF and the World Bank?

    Ngaire Woods thinks the Trump administration’s approach jeopardizes America’s geopolitical and economic interests.
  6. acemoglu84_Ludovic MarinGettyImages_ai_action_summit

    Will We Squander the AI Opportunity?

    Daron Acemoglu worries that the technology is on track to disempower, rather than complement, most of humanity.
  7. oladosu1_Sakorn SukkasemsakornGetty Images_moneyeducation Sakorn Sukkasemsakorn/Getty Images

    Education Belongs on the Climate Agenda

    Adenike Oladosu explains why investing in schools in conflict- and crisis-affected countries would build resilience.
  8. schell24_ApicGettyImages_mao_zedong Apic/Getty Images

    Trump’s Cultural Revolution

    Orville Schell sees obvious and troubling parallels between the US president and Mao Zedong.
  9. legrain40_Omar MarquesGetty Images_polandmilitary Omar Marques/Getty Images

    How Europe Can Rearm

    Philippe Legrain sees three options for the European Union to finance the sharply higher defense investment it urgently needs.

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