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Michael Spence

Michael Spence

Writing for PS since 2008
177 commentaries

Michael Spence, a Nobel laureate in economics, is Professor of Economics Emeritus and a former dean of the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. He is Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Senior Adviser to General Atlantic, and Chairman of the firm’s Global Growth Institute. He is Chair of the Advisory Board of the Asia Global Institute and serves on the Academic Committee at Luohan Academy. He is a former chair of the Commission on Growth and Development and a co-author (with Mohamed A. El-Erian, Gordon Brown, and Reid Lidow) of Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World (Simon & Schuster, 2023).

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  1. China Can Beat Back Deflation
    spence178_NurPhotoGettyImages_china_deflation_supermarket1 NurPhoto/Getty Images

    China Can Beat Back Deflation

    Nov 6, 2024 Michael Spence predicts that, with the right policies, the economy’s growth momentum can be restored within 2-3 years.

  2. The High Cost of Excluding Chinese Technology
    spence176_VCGVCG via Getty Images_chinaelectricvehicles VCG/VCG via Getty Images

    The High Cost of Excluding Chinese Technology

    Oct 2, 2024 Michael Spence warns that both the global economy and the sustainability agenda could be dealt a devastating blow.

  3. Europe Needs a New Economic Vision
    spence175_eu unnivation iStock / Getty Images Plus/greenbutterfly

    Europe Needs a New Economic Vision

    Aug 21, 2024 Michael Spence is confident that the European Union can make up ground lost to the US and China – if it knows what it wants.

  4. The Economics of Philanthropy
    spence174_ David RyderGetty Images_gates foundation David Ryder/Getty Images

    The Economics of Philanthropy

    Jul 4, 2024 Michael Spence proposes mechanisms for inducing the wealthy to support public goods at a time of rising inequality.

  5. Crunch Time for the Power Sector
    spence173_ Joe RaedleGetty Images_power Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    Crunch Time for the Power Sector

    May 17, 2024 Michael Spence argues that developing flexible, stable, and resilient smart grids requires an expanded industrial policy.

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  1. COP29 Financial Inclusion is Climate Action Event Thumbnail

    PS Events: COP29 Live From Baku Session 2

    PS editors present our second session from COP29, Financial Inclusion is Climate Action.
  2. pisaniferry149_ThierryMonasseGettyImages_vonderleyen_green_industry Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

    The EU Needs a Strong Clean Industrial Deal

    Jean Pisani-Ferry, et al. tout a strategy that combines decarbonization with measures to boost competitiveness and social cohesion.
  3. ggray1_DanielBeloumouOlomoGettyImages_neonatal_ward_cameroon Daniel Beloumou Olomo/Getty Images

    The World’s Babies Need Antibiotics, Not Just Vaccines

    Glenda Gray urges the international community to help African countries prevent infant deaths from treatable infections.
  4. bp how trump won Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    How Trump Did It

    Not only did Donald Trump win last week’s US presidential election decisively – winning some three million more votes than his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris – but the Republican Party he now controls gained majorities in both houses on Congress. Given the far-reaching implications of this result – for both US democracy and global stability – understanding how it came about is essential.

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    The Big Picture

  6. pistor38_Beata ZawrzelNurPhoto via Getty Images_capitalismprotest Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Capitalism Is Driving Democracy’s Death Spiral

    Katharina Pistor argues that the financialization of the global economy has come at the expense self-governance.
  7. anheier26_Markus Lenhardtpicture alliance via Getty Images_reichstag Markus Lenhardt/picture alliance via Getty Images

    What Germany’s Next Government Must Do

    Helmut K. Anheier argues that whoever wins the upcoming snap election must make progress in four key areas.
  8. op_yhuang2_BRENDAN SMIALOWSKIAFP via Getty Images_trumpmaga Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

    To Win Back Voters, Democrats Should Let Trump Be Trump

    Yasheng Huang

    By voting for Republican candidates, working-class voters effectively get to have their cake and eat it, expressing conservative moral preferences while relying on Democrats to fight for their basic economic security. The best strategy for Democrats now will be to permit voters to face the consequences of their choice.

    urges the party to adopt a long-term strategy aimed at discrediting the MAGA ideology once and for all.
  9. basu107_JimWatsonGettyImages_steelworkers_trump1 Jim Watson/Getty Images

    What If Trump Keeps His Promises?

    Kaushik Basu warns that the president-elect’s proposed trade policies will erode America’s competitiveness.

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