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Simon Johnson

Simon Johnson

Writing for PS since 2007
180 commentaries

Simon Johnson, a 2024 Nobel laureate in economics and a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund, is a professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Faculty Director of MIT’s Shaping the Future of Work initiative, and Co-Chair of the CFA Institute Systemic Risk Council. He is a co-author (with Daron Acemoglu) of Power and Progress: Our Thousand-Year Struggle Over Technology and Prosperity (PublicAffairs, 2023). 

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  1. The Economic Consequences of Trump 2.0
    johnson182_MANDEL NGANAFP via Getty Images_trump Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
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    The Economic Consequences of Trump 2.0

    Jan 3, 2025 Simon Johnson explains why reality is unlikely to come close to matching the US president-elect's rhetoric.

  2. Trump Can Win Against China – in Ukraine
    johnson181_Alexander ManzyukAnadolu Agency via Getty Images_russian oil Alexander Manzyuk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    Trump Can Win Against China – in Ukraine

    Nov 25, 2024 Simon Johnson & Oleg Ustenko argue that forcing Russia to withdraw would yield a clearer win for the US than tariffs on Chinese imports.

  3. Only Harris Will Deliver Shared Prosperity
    johnson180_JIM WATSONAFP via Getty Images_kamala harris JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

    Only Harris Will Deliver Shared Prosperity

    Nov 1, 2024 Simon Johnson says that Donald Trump’s discredited protectionism would benefit the few at the expense of the many.

  4. Trump’s Proposed Tariffs Are a Gift to the Rich
    krueger52_FREDERIC J. BROWNAFP via Getty Images_shipping port us FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

    Trump’s Proposed Tariffs Are a Gift to the Rich

    Oct 7, 2024 Simon Johnson cites research showing that middle-class US households would foot the bill.

  5. How to Create More Good Jobs
    bildt104_Doug MillsPoolGetty Images_semiconductors Doug Mills/Pool/Getty Images

    How to Create More Good Jobs

    Aug 2, 2024 Simon Johnson touts the 2022 US CHIPS and Science Act, which will nurture geographically dispersed innovation hubs.

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  1. toni4_Dominika ZarzyckaSOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_cop30 Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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    How to Make COP30 a Climate Turning Point

    Ana Toni sees the main task in Belém, Brazil, as accelerating the implementation of existing agreements.
  2. roach174_Christopher FurlongGetty Images_trump Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
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    Trump’s Trade Scam

    Stephen S. Roach points out that the new “External Revenue Service” would target domestic importers, not foreign producers.
  3. mackintosh8_Murat TanerGettyImages_fed_building Murat Taner/Getty Images
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    The Fed Is Running Scared of Trump

    Stuart P.M. Mackintosh observes that political pressure is already undermining independent, data-driven decision-making.
  4. buchholz22_Kayla BartkowskiGettyImages_tiktok_ban Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
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    Beware the TikTokalypse

    Todd G. Buchholz thinks calls to reverse the app’s ban or forced sale are based on a misunderstanding of its security risks.
  5. slaughter108_Iranian PresidencyAnadolu via Getty Images_BRICS Iranian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images
    1

    Middle Powers and the Art of the Deal

    Anne-Marie Slaughter foresees the world under Donald Trump becoming like a bazaar, to the benefit of multi-aligned countries.
  6. op_bivens1_JIM WATSONAFP via Getty Images_bidenworkers Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
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    America’s Workers Are About to Be Forgotten Again

    Josh Bivens & Heidi Shierholz

    Whatever his failings, Joe Biden did more for the typical American working family than any other president in at least a generation. Tragically, Americans who remain angry about chronic economic injustices will soon realize that the situation can get much worse.

     contrast the Biden administration's pro-worker policies with what Donald Trump is likely to do.
  7. ghosh84_NurPhotoGettyImages_wind_power_grid NurPhoto/Getty Images
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    Decommodify Electricity

    Jayati Ghosh shows why the market cannot mobilize the clean-energy investments needed to accelerate the green transition.
  8. moyo31_VCGVCG via Getty Images_semiconductors VCG via Getty Images
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    Three Reasons Why AI’s Momentum Could Stall in 2025

    Dambisa Moyo

    While artificial intelligence has the potential to drive global growth and boost productivity, the industry is grappling with mounting challenges like soaring development costs and energy requirements. Meanwhile, investors are questioning whether AI investments can deliver meaningful returns.

     identifies three negative trends that could stifle innovation and slow the pace of technological progress.
  9. arezki20_Miguel CandelaSOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_indiamanufacturing Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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    Solving India’s Industrialization Puzzle

    Rabah Arezki & Partha Sen ask why, unlike Bangladesh and Vietnam, manufacturing has not benefited from rising labor costs in China.

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