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Justin Wolfers

@JustinWolfers • 342,123 subscribers

Prof @UMichEcon & @FordSchool | Fellow @BrookingsInst | Intro Econ textbook author | https://t.co/p3ziw22KMT | https://t.co/vvrskX2z0e

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That's it. That's the policy announcement.

That's it. That's the policy announcement.

1,104,626 views

Does the President think he's proposing tariffs on American exports?

Does the President think he's proposing tariffs on American exports?

87,564 views

Is it economic to make iPhones in the U.S.? It's not a complicated question, so lemme answer with the brevity it deserves.

Is it economic to make iPhones in the U.S.? It's not a complicated question, so lemme answer with the brevity it deserves.

86,116 views

I've waited my whole life to discuss penguin tariffs on live teevee.

I've waited my whole life to discuss penguin tariffs on live teevee.

61,936 views

makes you think...

makes you think...

44,268 views

In most economic eras, I don't need to begin my commentary with "If the clown show continues..." But here we are.

In most economic eras, I don't need to begin my commentary with "If the clown show continues..." But here we are.

49,226 views

Every young Aussie dreams of pulling off this prank on unsuspecting Americans, and to do it on national TV, to a renowned rapper, makes it all the sweeter.

Every young Aussie dreams of pulling off this prank on unsuspecting Americans, and to do it on national TV, to a renowned rapper, makes it all the sweeter.

34,985 views

If you impose tariffs, and they retaliate, all you've achieved is isolating your people from the rest of the global economy.

If you impose tariffs, and they retaliate, all you've achieved is isolating your people from the rest of the global economy.

31,521 views

"Past congresses delegated authority—emergency powers—to the President, and the President declares everything an emergency. I'm incredibly hopeful.. that at some point all of this will be ruled unconstitutional because in fact there's no emergency." 🎙️ Recorded this at 12:30 🧑‍⚖️ Courts acted by 6:30

"Past congresses delegated authority—emergency powers—to the President, and the President declares everything an emergency. I'm incredibly hopeful.. that at some point all of this will be ruled unconstitutional because in fact there's no emergency." 🎙️ Recorded this at 12:30 🧑‍⚖️ Courts acted by 6:30

20,597 views

Markets have fallen sharply in recent days, even as it's uncertain how long Trump will persist with them. If it becomes certain he'll persist, the sellof will become even more dramatic.

Markets have fallen sharply in recent days, even as it's uncertain how long Trump will persist with them. If it becomes certain he'll persist, the sellof will become even more dramatic.

19,438 views

Markets are crashing because President Trump has issued punishing sanctions against the American people.

Markets are crashing because President Trump has issued punishing sanctions against the American people.

17,125 views

Some advice for the White House.

Some advice for the White House.

15,091 views

Perhaps there's an argument to be had about the usefulness of tariffs. But I don't see how anyone can defend incoherent tariffs. That incoherence makes the Trump tariffs immensely more disruptive than they need to be.

Perhaps there's an argument to be had about the usefulness of tariffs. But I don't see how anyone can defend incoherent tariffs. That incoherence makes the Trump tariffs immensely more disruptive than they need to be.

13,935 views

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Economists call this diminishing marginal utility. The first dollars change your life. The billionth doesn't. So the argument stops being about consumption and starts being about power.
1:33
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Economists call this diminishing marginal utility. The first dollars change your life. The billionth doesn't. So the argument stops being about consumption and starts being about power.

Justin Wolfers

92,065 views • 4 days ago

If there's a water shortage, don't subsidize showers. If there's a blackout, don't make AC cheaper. If there's an oil shortage, don't cut gas taxes. High prices are the signal telling us to conserve — blunting that signal makes the problem worse.
1:54
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If there's a water shortage, don't subsidize showers. If there's a blackout, don't make AC cheaper. If there's an oil shortage, don't cut gas taxes. High prices are the signal telling us to conserve — blunting that signal makes the problem worse.

Justin Wolfers

105,174 views • 7 days ago

Sen. Warren: "Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?" Handsome Kevin: "ummm... errr... " His response raises real questions about whether Warsh is independent of the President and if he has the courage to tell hard truths.
1:43
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Sen. Warren: "Did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?" Handsome Kevin: "ummm... errr... " His response raises real questions about whether Warsh is independent of the President and if he has the courage to tell hard truths.

Justin Wolfers

582,299 views • 1 month ago

"Argentina's done it. Russia's done it. Turkey's done it. Venezuela's done it. And Zimbabwe's done it. It's a thing that tin pot dictators do... right before starting a hyperinflation and destroying their own economies."
1:01
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"Argentina's done it. Russia's done it. Turkey's done it. Venezuela's done it. And Zimbabwe's done it. It's a thing that tin pot dictators do... right before starting a hyperinflation and destroying their own economies."

Justin Wolfers

1,383,962 views • 4 months ago

A 30-year mortgage currently has an interest rate of 6.3%. A reasonable guess it that a 50-year mortgage rate would be about 7.0%. ⇒ The monthly payment on a $500k mortgage: - 30 years: $3,050 per month - 50 years: Only $100 less at $2,950 (but 240 months longer).
1:24
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A 30-year mortgage currently has an interest rate of 6.3%. A reasonable guess it that a 50-year mortgage rate would be about 7.0%. ⇒ The monthly payment on a $500k mortgage: - 30 years: $3,050 per month - 50 years: Only $100 less at $2,950 (but 240 months longer).

Justin Wolfers

1,995,431 views • 6 months ago

A gas tax holiday talks about 18.4¢ while ignoring the $1.50 problem. That's politics, not policy. And half of it likely goes straight to oil company profits. Congress knows this. Some just hope you don't.
1:18
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A gas tax holiday talks about 18.4¢ while ignoring the $1.50 problem. That's politics, not policy. And half of it likely goes straight to oil company profits. Congress knows this. Some just hope you don't.

Justin Wolfers

29,342 views • 4 days ago

Interviewer: "When you look at today's numbers, what do they tell us about the effectiveness of Donald Trump's tariffs." Me, very serious economist: "Hahahahahahahahahahaha... hahahahahahahaha... hahahahahahahaha... oh, wow." Sometimes all you can do is laugh at the absurdity.
0:40
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Interviewer: "When you look at today's numbers, what do they tell us about the effectiveness of Donald Trump's tariffs." Me, very serious economist: "Hahahahahahahahahahaha... hahahahahahahaha... hahahahahahahaha... oh, wow." Sometimes all you can do is laugh at the absurdity.

Justin Wolfers

899,235 views • 3 months ago

Even a quick Iran deal won't undo the damage already done.⁣ ⁣ Stock losses, years of elevated oil prices, and a $350B defense budget increase that quietly translates to $3–4K in added taxes per household.⁣ ⁣ The economy doesn't just snap back. Some of this is permanent.
0:59
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Even a quick Iran deal won't undo the damage already done.⁣ ⁣ Stock losses, years of elevated oil prices, and a $350B defense budget increase that quietly translates to $3–4K in added taxes per household.⁣ ⁣ The economy doesn't just snap back. Some of this is permanent.

Justin Wolfers

357,310 views • 1 month ago

In 2008, economists lined up against the gas tax holiday. Stephanopoulos asked Hillary Clinton to name one economist who supported it. She couldn't. Same gimmick, same fake relief — and here we are again, 18 years later.
1:39
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In 2008, economists lined up against the gas tax holiday. Stephanopoulos asked Hillary Clinton to name one economist who supported it. She couldn't. Same gimmick, same fake relief — and here we are again, 18 years later.

Justin Wolfers

30,743 views • 5 days ago

It's a revealing moment... J.D. Vance welcomes a two-legged robot helping on the job site. But if that helper is a person named Jose, he calls it a threat. Same tasks, same productivity boost. The inconsistency reveals this isn’t about economics.
1:19
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It's a revealing moment... J.D. Vance welcomes a two-legged robot helping on the job site. But if that helper is a person named Jose, he calls it a threat. Same tasks, same productivity boost. The inconsistency reveals this isn’t about economics.

Justin Wolfers

1,160,480 views • 6 months ago

"If what you want is rate cuts, here's the thing you don't do. You don't go and bomb a country in the Middle East upsetting global energy markets and pushing prices up across the board."
0:42
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"If what you want is rate cuts, here's the thing you don't do. You don't go and bomb a country in the Middle East upsetting global energy markets and pushing prices up across the board."

Justin Wolfers

27,385 views • 5 days ago

Announcing: Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers — a Substack, YouTube channel, and podcast built around one idea: Economics is one of the most useful, surprising, and weirdly beautiful subjects in the world. It belongs to everyone — not just the people who happened to take it in college. 🧵
1:14
JustinWolfers's profile picture

Announcing: Platypus Economics with Justin Wolfers — a Substack, YouTube channel, and podcast built around one idea: Economics is one of the most useful, surprising, and weirdly beautiful subjects in the world. It belongs to everyone — not just the people who happened to take it in college. 🧵

Justin Wolfers

147,123 views • 28 days ago

"You can't say the cost of a puppy is $200 because that was the adoption fee." The Pentagon's $25B price tag does exactly that — it ignores veterans' care, disability payments, and decades of interest. The true cost of war shows up long after the fighting stops.
1:32
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"You can't say the cost of a puppy is $200 because that was the adoption fee." The Pentagon's $25B price tag does exactly that — it ignores veterans' care, disability payments, and decades of interest. The true cost of war shows up long after the fighting stops.

Justin Wolfers

96,967 views • 19 days ago

"We're still gonna be paying more effectively an Iran tax. That Iran tax is gonna be around for months and probably years." ⁣ ⁣ A neat phrase for a very real hit to family budgets.
0:50
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"We're still gonna be paying more effectively an Iran tax. That Iran tax is gonna be around for months and probably years." ⁣ ⁣ A neat phrase for a very real hit to family budgets.

Justin Wolfers

49,400 views • 10 days ago

If you want a guess as to what Kevin Warsh -- who throughout the Obama years was a devout hawk -- told the President to win the job of Fed Chair, I think this clip might give you a sense of it. (This is from late October.)
2:38
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If you want a guess as to what Kevin Warsh -- who throughout the Obama years was a devout hawk -- told the President to win the job of Fed Chair, I think this clip might give you a sense of it. (This is from late October.)

Justin Wolfers

587,768 views • 4 months ago

Kavanaugh is worried that if the President can fire Fed governors, then each President will fire all Fed governors every four years. Pencil that out, and you'll see partisan concerns start to overwhelm economic concerns.
1:13
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Kavanaugh is worried that if the President can fire Fed governors, then each President will fire all Fed governors every four years. Pencil that out, and you'll see partisan concerns start to overwhelm economic concerns.

Justin Wolfers

567,412 views • 4 months ago

"Mate, I can't do anything but tell it to you straight. This Canada thing is literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard. The Canadians ran an advertisement showing Ronald Reagan being against tariffs. Guess what? Ronald Reagan was against tariffs."
0:43
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"Mate, I can't do anything but tell it to you straight. This Canada thing is literally the dumbest thing I've ever heard. The Canadians ran an advertisement showing Ronald Reagan being against tariffs. Guess what? Ronald Reagan was against tariffs."

Justin Wolfers

865,684 views • 7 months ago

A smarter model for paying for college: income-based repayment. You start paying your student loans only once you earn enough to comfortably get by. That turns higher ed debt into something more like a tax surcharge on success, not a choke collar on people who are struggling.
0:52
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A smarter model for paying for college: income-based repayment. You start paying your student loans only once you earn enough to comfortably get by. That turns higher ed debt into something more like a tax surcharge on success, not a choke collar on people who are struggling.

Justin Wolfers

593,494 views • 5 months ago

Trump's "big" trade deal is with the UK: - It's a framework not a deal - They're our 11th largest trading partner - They're only 3% of US trade (97% to go) - They *already* charge average tariffs of only 1% (limited upside) It's a photo op, with little macroeconomic significance
2:05
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Trump's "big" trade deal is with the UK: - It's a framework not a deal - They're our 11th largest trading partner - They're only 3% of US trade (97% to go) - They *already* charge average tariffs of only 1% (limited upside) It's a photo op, with little macroeconomic significance

Justin Wolfers

1,421,536 views • 1 year ago

The United States is no longer negotiating with Canada because its Republican President does not understand his predecessor's view of tariffs. Forget the clip that worries the President. Reagan was consistent, and here's a different speech where he made his case.
1:11
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The United States is no longer negotiating with Canada because its Republican President does not understand his predecessor's view of tariffs. Forget the clip that worries the President. Reagan was consistent, and here's a different speech where he made his case.

Justin Wolfers

787,524 views • 7 months ago