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Economy

Vox’s coverage of the economy. Analysis of inflation, the housing market, economic booms, recessions, and everything in between.

Why some economists are skeptical of this year’s NobelistsWhy some economists are skeptical of this year’s Nobelists
Future PerfectMember Exclusive

Did they actually figure out why nations fail?

By Dylan Matthews
Your phones and computers rely on this remote mine in North Carolina. Helene just drowned it.Your phones and computers rely on this remote mine in North Carolina. Helene just drowned it.
ClimateMember Exclusive

Hurricane Helene exposed the vulnerable underbelly of the global chip industry.

By Adam Clark Estes
Trump and Harris could raise taxes without asking Congress. Congress should stop them.Trump and Harris could raise taxes without asking Congress. Congress should stop them.
Policy

Why are tariffs the only tax that Congress doesn’t need to approve?

By Dylan Matthews
If interest rates go down, do home prices go down? Not quite.If interest rates go down, do home prices go down? Not quite.
Economy

The Fed has cut interest rates. That might not immediately help home buyers waiting on the sidelines.

By Nicole Narea
Do the benefits of the expanded child tax credit actually fade with time?Do the benefits of the expanded child tax credit actually fade with time?
Future Perfect

A new study argues the long-run benefits outweigh the costs nearly 10 to 1.

By Oshan Jarow
A plot of land in Southern California could be a game-changer for the housing crisis
Policy

Factory-built housing, ADUs, and community land trusts — all at once.

By Rachel M. Cohen
Shrinking the economy won’t save the planetShrinking the economy won’t save the planet
Future Perfect

561 research papers in, the case for degrowth is still weak.

By Kelsey Piper
Can we grow the economy without making more useless junk?
Future Perfect

We buy stuff. We throw it away. There’s a system to stop this toxic cycle.

By Izzie Ramirez
Is this algorithm driving your rent higher?Is this algorithm driving your rent higher?
Money

The DOJ’s case about rent collusion might have huge implications for high prices.

By Whizy Kim
Armed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economyArmed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economy
World Politics

From shipping lanes to airspace to undersea cables, globalization is under physical attack.

By Joshua Keating
The US government has to start paying for things againThe US government has to start paying for things again
Policy

Why, and how, the US should fix its debt problem.

By Dylan Matthews
Inflation has dropped. What happens next?Inflation has dropped. What happens next?
Business & Finance

Is the Federal Reserve finally about to cut interest rates?

By Nicole Narea
Bangladesh’s prime minister just fled the country in a helicopter. Why?Bangladesh’s prime minister just fled the country in a helicopter. Why?
World Politics

Bangladesh’s Sheikh Hasina is out. What comes next?

By Ellen Ioanes
What caused the global stock market meltdownWhat caused the global stock market meltdown
Money

Stocks plunged across the world Monday. Does it mean a US recession is looming?

By Nicole Narea
Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?Venezuela’s Maduro just tightened his grip on power. What comes next?
World Politics

Nicolás Maduro has presided over Venezuela’s economic decline — while increasing his authoritarian tendencies.

By Ellen Ioanes
Artificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic incomeArtificial intelligence isn’t a good argument for basic income
Future Perfect

A major study backed by OpenAI’s Sam Altman shows unconditional cash has benefits that have nothing to do with AI.

By Oshan Jarow
Traveling has never been better if you’re rich — but it’s worse if you’re notTraveling has never been better if you’re rich — but it’s worse if you’re not
Money

Looking at the growing rift in travel spending.

By Whizy Kim
The hidden cost of your Prime Day purchasesThe hidden cost of your Prime Day purchases
Labor

For Amazon workers, the bevy of sales reinforces the human toll of “same-day delivery, lifetime of injury.”

By Sam Delgado
France’s elections showed a polarized countryFrance’s elections showed a polarized country
Explainers

France held back the far right. No one knows what’s next.

By Ellen Ioanes
What the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually meanWhat the Labour Party’s big win in the UK will actually mean
World Politics

The UK is getting a new government. What is it promising to do?

By Ellen Ioanes
What Kenya’s deadly protests are really aboutWhat Kenya’s deadly protests are really about
World Politics

A proposed tax hike sparked unrest, but Kenya’s real problem is a debt crisis.

By Ellen Ioanes
The winners and losers of the Biden economy
Politics

Younger workers have done well under Biden. Fast food fanatics have not.

By Eric Levitz
How much can we actually control inflation?How much can we actually control inflation?
Audio
Unexplainable

The mystery of inflation may be rooted in psychology.

By Noam Hassenfeld
What if quitting your terrible job would help the economy?What if quitting your terrible job would help the economy?
Future Perfect

Should people who quit get unemployment benefits?

By Oshan Jarow
Why Americans hate inflation — and its cureWhy Americans hate inflation — and its cure
Future Perfect

Other countries have social safety nets. The US has debt.

By Dylan Matthews
Biden is on track to beat inflation and lose the presidencyBiden is on track to beat inflation and lose the presidency
Politics

The data on prices is getting better, but the public’s disapproval of the president remains unchanged.

By Eric Levitz
Biden’s overlooked campaign to protect Americans from Big BusinessBiden’s overlooked campaign to protect Americans from Big Business
Politics

Many Americans are focused on inflation, but from Big Tech to junk fees, Biden is advancing a pro-consumer agenda.

By Nicole Narea
What’s really happening to grocery prices right nowWhat’s really happening to grocery prices right now
Money

Target and Walmart are talking about their price cuts. How big of a deal is it?

By Whizy Kim
Red Lobster’s mistakes go beyond endless shrimpRed Lobster’s mistakes go beyond endless shrimp
Audio
Today, Explained podcast

Does the restaurant’s bankruptcy signal rough seas ahead for casual dining chains?

By Denise Guerra and David Pierce
High interest rates probably aren’t going away anytime soonHigh interest rates probably aren’t going away anytime soon
Economy

The Federal Reserve will give an announcement on interest rates during its May meeting Wednesday.

By Nicole Narea
Why we keep seeing egg prices spikeWhy we keep seeing egg prices spike
Money

How corporate greed plays a role in making bird flu outbreaks — and egg prices — worse.

By Whizy Kim
Trump’s team keeps promising to increase inflationTrump’s team keeps promising to increase inflation
2024 Elections

Voters trust Trump to lower prices, even as his advisers put forward plans for increasing Americans’ cost of living.

By Eric Levitz
Tell the truth about Biden’s economyTell the truth about Biden’s economy
Economy

Exaggerating the harms of inflation doesn’t help working people.

By Eric Levitz
Want a 32-hour workweek? Give workers more power.Want a 32-hour workweek? Give workers more power.
Future Perfect

German labor history has some tips on how the US could reduce its workweek.

By Oshan Jarow
How AI could explode the economy
Future Perfect

And how it could fizzle.

By Dylan Matthews
Uber-style pricing is coming for everythingUber-style pricing is coming for everything
Money

More and more industries are adopting “dynamic pricing” — and consumers aren’t happy.

By Whizy Kim
Biden isn’t advertising America’s record oil boomBiden isn’t advertising America’s record oil boom
Climate

Biden is not “waging war” on American energy. He’s boosting it.

By Nicole Narea
Biden’s vs. Trump’s economy, in 8 chartsBiden’s vs. Trump’s economy, in 8 charts
Politics

The gaps between perception of the economy and the reality, explained.

By Nicole Narea
A utopian strand of economic thought is making a surprising comeback
Future Perfect

It was once normal for economists to imagine a world with less work. What happened?

By Oshan Jarow