Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael R Strain

@michaelrstrain.bsky.social

3.7K followers 150 following 400 posts

Director of Economic Policy Studies and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Professor of Practice at Georgetown University.

Videos

Michael R. Strain is an American economist. He is currently the Director of Economic Policy Studies and the Arthur F. Burns Scholar in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also Professor of Practice in the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, a research fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics, and a columnist for Project Syndicate. Strain's research focuses on labor economics, macroeconomics, public finance, and social policy. .. more

Economics 51%

Education 13%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

Project Syndicate @projectsyndicate.bsky.social · 24d

The Federal Reserve's case for beginning a monetary-easing cycle this month rests on three judgments. But it is off base on all three, writes @michaelrstrain.bsky.social of the American Enterprise Institute. bit.ly/3VnFsnf

The Fed’s Wrong Move

Michael R. Strain argues that US interest-rate cuts this year will have to be reversed in 2026, as inflation re-accelerates.

bit.ly

1 2

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Sep 6

I enjoyed talking yesterday with @jdickerson.bsky.social on CBS Evening News Plus about the jobs report, the overall economy, and the Fed.

www.cbsnews.com/video/95-cbs... #econsky @cbseveningnews.bsky.social

9/5: CBS Evening News Plus

A possible upside to August's slowing job growth; Reporter's Notebook: Can a manufacturing renaissance deliver for workers?

www.cbsnews.com

1 4

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 27

👊

Reposted by Claudia Sahm

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 26

Trump is hostile to the Fed’s independence. He wants to bend the central bank to his will. He is willing to threaten officials with criminal prosecution to get his way. We are in dangerous territory.

My @nationalreview.bsky.social column.

www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-s... #econsky

The Senate Must Preserve Fed Independence | National Review

Whether Lisa Cook stays or goes, the Senate must confirm only Fed governors who are independent of partisan politics and of the president.

www.nationalreview.com

30 77 280

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

VoxEU @ CEPR @voxeu.org · Aug 26

Summarising his chapter from a CEPR book on the economic consequences of the 2nd Trump administration, @michaelrstrain.bsky.social‬ argues that American #manufacturing is not in crisis and the #trade war is likely to decrease manufacturing employment.
cepr.org/voxeu/column...
#EconSky

Graph of the top countries' manufacturing production in billions of 2015 constant dollars.

The two most prominent arguments President Trump has advanced for his trade war – both during the early months of his second term, and for decades prior – are that protectionism will reduce the trade deficit and increase manufacturing employment. This column, taken from a CEPR book on the economic consequences of the second Trump administration, argues that American manufacturing is not in crisis and manufacturing jobs do not deserve special attention, and that the trade war is likely to decrease manufacturing employment rather than increase it.

2 6

Reposted by Steve Peers, Michael R. Strain

Todd Tucker @toddntucker.com · Aug 26

What to make of the latest news that the US government is converting its billions in grants to Intel into equity shares?

@novasafo.bsky.social has the story @marketplace.org with comments from me @michaelrstrain.bsky.social and others.
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

Why Intel warns that government stake may hurt shareholders

Washington’s investment may well come with unintended consequences.

www.marketplace.org

4 5

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 25

Trump’s decision to take an equity stake in Intel is astonishing and troubling. His recent deal with Nvidia and AMD suggests security concerns are being used by the president as a fig leaf for rank corporate shakedowns.

My @financialtimes.com column.

Link: www.ft.com/content/2ddb... #econsky

Trump’s Intel deal is a threat to US economic liberty

Taking unnecessary equity stakes in private companies is opportunism — not strategic state capitalism

www.ft.com

2 9 17

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 21

I'm proud to work with WorkRise and I am proud of the work WorkRise is doing to advance economic mobility for low-wage workers. Please take a minute for this survey.

Link: urban.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

#econsky

Research-Informed Action for Low Wage Worker Mobility

This survey is a fieldwide effort to hear directly from practitioners, employers, policymakers, researchers, and funders about where evidence is most urgently needed. The goal is to benefit the entire...

urban.co1.qualtrics.com

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

Todd Tucker @toddntucker.com · Aug 18

The chaos of Trump's sticks, coupled with the absence of carrots, is not on track to set up a manufacturing renaissance, reports @greenhousenyt.bsky.social, with comment from @michaelrstrain.bsky.social @drodrik.bsky.social Ann Harrison , Sue Helper, and me.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump’s promise of a US manufacturing renaissance leaves experts scratching their heads

Economists doubt US duties will bring about a resurgence of US factory jobs, notably due to Trump’s erratic tariff rollout

www.theguardian.com

1 3 6

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 15

2/ If the integrity of official statistics erodes, then there is *no* suitable alternative for businesses, investors, and policymakers.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0... #econsky

With Trump taking aim at government economic data, what other sources can businesses turn to?

There are private firms that offer specialized economic data, but they're not always as comprehensive as government sources.

www.marketplace.org

1 6

Reposted by Erica L. Groshen

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 15

1/ On @marketplace.org, I argue that private-sector data are a valuable compliment to government data, but are *not* a substitute for government data, like those produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0... #econsky

With Trump taking aim at government economic data, what other sources can businesses turn to?

There are private firms that offer specialized economic data, but they're not always as comprehensive as government sources.

www.marketplace.org

7 23 120

Reposted by Lars Vilhuber, Joshua L. Rosenbloom, Trevon D. Logan , and 2 more Lars Vilhuber, Joshua L. Rosenbloom, Trevon D. Logan, Michael R. Strain, Aaron Sojourner

Erica Groshen @ericagroshen.bsky.social · Aug 13

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics shall also collect, collate, report and publish at least once per month full and complete statistics on the volume of and changes in employment, as indicated by the number of people employed, the total wages paid, and the total hours of employment."
US law--1913, 1930

7 49 140

Reposted by Michael R. Strain, Aaron Sojourner

Lauren Bauer @laurenhlb.bsky.social · Aug 6

Take a moment to read this by @michaelrstrain.bsky.social on BLS yes, but also on integrity.

www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/t...

#EconSky

Trump Must Appoint a Nonpartisan Statistics Chief

Michael R. Strain explains why a robust economy depends on public confidence in the integrity of official data.

www.project-syndicate.org

1 3 5

Reposted by Iikka Korhonen, C. Kirabo Jackson

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 6

#econsky

Project Syndicate @projectsyndicate.bsky.social · Aug 6

Donald Trump should think twice before attempting to install a lackey at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, because undermining trust in government data could have cascading effects throughout the US economy, @michaelrstrain.bsky.social argues.

Trump Must Appoint a Nonpartisan Statistics Chief

Michael R. Strain explains why a robust economy depends on public confidence in the integrity of official data.

www.project-syndicate.org

6 7 17

Reposted by Iikka Korhonen, Aaron Sojourner, C. Kirabo Jackson

Project Syndicate @projectsyndicate.bsky.social · Aug 6

Trump Must Appoint a Nonpartisan Statistics Chief

Michael R. Strain explains why a robust economy depends on public confidence in the integrity of official data.

www.project-syndicate.org

4 2 7

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

Jacob Bogage @jacobbogage.bsky.social · Aug 1

Trump fired the official in charge of collecting basic statistics about the US economy.

He's risking material harm to the economy by politicizing routine data reports, @michaelrstrain.bsky.social tells me.

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Staffing shortages at the bureau are already fueling questions about the agency’s ability to accurately tabulate data on consumer prices.

“The president is risking material economic harm through his politicization of the BLS and of official government data,” said Michael Strain, an economist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, who worked with McEntarfer in the early 2010s at the U.S. Census Bureau.
“It is imperative that businesses, households and investors believe that official government data are accurate and do not reflect any political bias,” Strain said. “Fortunately, that is true of the data, but by sewing doubt, President Trump is undermining the integrity of the information that businesses, investors and households rely on.”

8 17 53

Reposted by David Levinson, Stephen P. Jenkins, Timothy J. Bartik , and 11 more David Levinson, Stephen P. Jenkins, Timothy J. Bartik, Michael A. Clemens, Jesse Rothstein, Lars Vilhuber, Guy Grossman, Joshua Goodman, Aaron Sojourner, Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, Douglas N. Harris, Michael J. Hicks, Cullen S. Hendrix, Goldie Blumenstyk

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Aug 1

Dr. Erika McEntarfer has devoted her career to public service. She has conducted herself as BLS Commissioner with great integrity. There is no evidence whatsoever that BLS data are politically biased.

#econsky

39 320 1.1K

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

Project Syndicate @projectsyndicate.bsky.social · Aug 1

Even if Donald Trump doesn’t make good on his threat to fire the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, his actions could significantly erode the central bank’s independence.

Read more in a new PS Big Picture, with @michaelrstrain.bsky.social, Harold James, and others. bit.ly/3U8OKmr

3 3

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 28

Strain said maintaining the quality and integrity of federal economic data “is something that I am very concerned about. High-quality government data is extremely important to financial markets, business decisions, households’ decisions.”

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0... #econsky

Federal data has been disappearing under Trump

There’s been a “targeted, surgical removal of data sets, or elements of data sets, that are not aligned with the administration’s priorities,” said Denice Ross at the Federation of American Scientists...

www.marketplace.org

3 9

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 28

#econsky

koenfucius @koenfucius.bsky.social · Jul 2

Horseshoe theory suggests the far left and the far right converge toward each other.

We see this played out in the way populists on both sides wallow in, and amplify bad news.

Ignore their calls, advise Clifford Asness & @michaelrstrain.bsky.social in @thefp.com:

buff.ly/gzHrIfm

Reposted by Simon Johnson, Michael R. Strain

Project Syndicate @projectsyndicate.bsky.social · Apr 7

@michaelrstrain.bsky.social is spot on, says @simonhrjohnson.bsky.social. Trump’s latest tariffs will decrease, not increase, manufacturing employment.

A US Tariff Idea That Makes Sense | by Simon Johnson - Project Syndicate

Simon Johnson touts the benefits of a bipartisan Senate bill that would target Russian oil exports.

www.project-syndicate.org

1 6

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 17

4/ Here's the full issue from Ipsos, with tons of great information, data, and analysis: www.ipsos.com/en-us/future...

The American Dream is alive. But is it well?

What the Future Editor Matt Carmichael explains Ipsos’ multimodal research on how the changing American Dream will shape consumer behavior and future market opportunities.

www.ipsos.com

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 17

3/ My friends, the American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It)!

Read about why: www.amazon.com/American-Dre... #econsky

The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It) (New Threats to Freedom Series)

The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It) (New Threats to Freedom Series) [Strain, Michael R.] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It) (New Threats to Freedom Series)

www.amazon.com

1 1

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 17

2 Here's our full interview: www.ipsos.com/en-us/future...

Why higher education remains a key driver of the American Dream

Michael Strain, director of Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, explains why higher education and entrepreneurship will still drive upward mobility in the U.S.

www.ipsos.com

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 17

1/ I really enjoyed this conversation with Ipsos Ipsos in US about the American Dream. As I told Mr. Carmichael, my belief in the health of the American Dream has only strengthened in recent years.

#econsky

Why higher education remains a key driver of the American Dream

Michael Strain, director of Economic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, explains why higher education and entrepreneurship will still drive upward mobility in the U.S.

www.ipsos.com

1 1

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jul 11

"Why Is Fertility So Low in High Income Countries?"

Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine present important evidence on their research question, but also on economic methodology. See below for issues all empirical economists should be thinking about. Link to paper: www.nber.org/papers/w33989 #econsky

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

koenfucius @koenfucius.bsky.social · Jul 2

1 3

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jun 27

👇

bsky.app/profile/mich... #econsky

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jun 18

🚨🚨 My new paper, "The (non) effect of tariffs on manufacturing employment" is hot off the presses.

A 🧵

Link: www.aei.org/wp-content/u...

#econsky

1 1

Michael R Strain @michaelrstrain.bsky.social · Jun 27

Great @martinsandbu.ft.com column: "The economic consequences of Donald Trump’s second coming"

Link: www.ft.com/content/0892...

#econsky

1 2 6

Reposted by Michael R. Strain

Centre for Economic Policy Research @cepr.org · Jun 27

@michaelrstrain.bsky.social argues that the #trade war will likely decrease the number of #manufacturing jobs in the US and that increasing US manufacturing employment is not even a particularly important or desirable goal to begin with.
cepr.org/publications...
#EconSky

Graph of the decline in the share of manufacturing employment in the US from 1939-2025.

3 2