OBAMA: The US economy has 4 huge problems — here's how I'd fix them
In an op-ed for The Economist on Thursday, President Barack Obama laid out his views on the shortcomings in the US economy and a way forward for the next president to improve the economy. He also vented some of his frustrations with the current political discussion of the economy.
In addition to touting the work he had done, Obama discussed four challenges facing the next president and ways that they can take on those challenges. The challenges were:
Slowing productivity of workers. Obama noted that despite amazing technological gains, the growth rate of productivity of American workers has been declining. Obama said that encouraging private investment through improving tax codes on businesses, priming the pump with public investment, and creating trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership would help to solve the issue.
Increasing income inequality. Obama noted that the top 1% of earners in the US now receive 17% of all posttax income, versus 7% in 1979. His solutions include raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, engendering a sense of community among those at the top and bottom, and raising the federal minimum wage.
Declining labor force participation. Obama noted that 12% of prime-age men (25-54) are not in the labor force today, versus 3% in 1953. For women, this number has also increased, to 26% from 23% in 1999. Obama said wage insurance, a strong community-college system, and making reentry into the workforce from prison easier would help reverse the trend.
Crumbling infrastructure. Obama said both the financial and the physical infrastructure are lacking in the US. On the financial side, Obama suggested keeping a closer eye on the shadow banking and nonfinancial lending system. For physical infrastructure, Obama said fiscal stimulus from the federal government could not only fix roads, but also encourage economic growth.
Underneath all of these problems, Obama said, is a political system that has polarized to the point that it has become nearly impossible to pass laws that would improve the economy.
"Unfortunately, good economics can be overridden by bad politics," he wrote.
Obama called the current state of politics "so partisan that previously bipartisan ideas like bridge and airport upgrades are nonstarters."
