The Broader Economy

Budget Deficits and National Debt

The federal budget deficit and national debt are two related but distinct concepts that shape…

• What Is a Balanced Budget?
• Understanding the U.S. Government Budget Surplus
• Is It Good to Have a Government Budget Surplus?
• How U.S. Financial Decision Making Compares to Other Global Powers
• US National Debt: $37.8 Trillion and Growing

Economic Growth

• How Japan Is Funding $550 Billion U.S. Manufacturing Push
• The Economic Case for Immigration: What the Data Shows About America’s Workforce
• Understanding Business Improvement Districts vs. Tax Increment Financing Districts: Tools for Local Revitalization
• Why Policy Stability is Critical for Economic Growth
• A Guide to Creating a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

Economic Indicators

```html Economic indicators are the statistics that reveal how well—or poorly—the American economy is performing.…

• How the U.S. GDP is Calculated
• Why Gas Prices Are So High: Breaking Down the Cost of Every Gallon
• How the Federal Government Tracks America’s Money Flows with the World
• How Government Policies Create and Destroy Market Bubbles
• Why “Real GDP” Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

Financial Regulation

• Should the U.S. Regulate Bitcoin, and How?
• Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Regulation in the United States
• How the US Government Has Responded to Financial Crises
• How Government Policies Create and Destroy Market Bubbles
• How the Government Regulates Real Estate Bubbles

Industrial Policy

Industrial policy is government action designed to support and develop specific industries that are vital…

• Free Trade Agreements: Pros and Cons for America
• A Guide to NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
• Made in America: How Government Policy Shapes What We Build and Buy
• When Should Taxpayers Own Pieces of American Companies?
• Can the US Government Own American Companies?

Interest Rates

Interest rates influence many aspects of the economy, from your mortgage payments to the returns…

• PCE vs. CPI: The Two Faces of U.S. Inflation
• What Does the Fed Chair Do?
• The Economic “Puppet Masters”: How the Fed and Congress Pull America’s Financial Strings
• How the US Government Has Responded to Financial Crises
• Understanding Inflation vs. Deflation: What They Mean for You and the U.S. Economy

Monetary and Fiscal Policy

• Understanding Business Cycles and Economic Growth
• Is It Good to Have a Government Budget Surplus?
• How U.S. Financial Decision Making Compares to Other Global Powers
• How America’s Economy Stays Steady: The Hidden Tools That Keep Us Afloat
• What Does the Fed Chair Do?

Trade Policy

Trade policy shapes how the United States interacts economically with other countries, influencing the flow…

• The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement: A Guide
• How U.S. Tariffs Are Changing Your Bill at Amazon, Walmart, and Temu
• Do Economic Sanctions Work?
• Free Trade Agreements: Pros and Cons for America
• How Will Tariffs Affect the US Economy?