Economic Policy News
The Daily Signal provides economic policy news with reporting, analysis, and commentary on markets, growth, and fiscal responsibility.
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opinion
Getting Back to Business: The Buttonwood Agreement on the Eve of America’s 250th Birthday
This week marks the anniversary of one of the most consequential yet least celebrated moments in American economic history. On May 17, 1792, 24 merchants, brokers, and auctioneers gathered at 68 Wall Street in New York and signed a concise, two-sentence agreement under a buttonwood tree. In plain language, they pledged to trade public stocks… -
opinion
The End May Be Nigh for Automakers’ Monopoly on Car Repair Data
Think you own that new car you just bought? Not all of it. As many Americans are learning, Automakers own their data, and they’re trying to dictate who can fix the vehicle when something breaks or even when it just needs regular maintenance. It’s a way to force car and truck owners into expensive dealerships… -
opinion
Study Examines Whether Advanced Degrees Are Worth Costs
The Left believes there is a contrived war on higher education. However, recent analysis counters that claim by showing that there is an economic disadvantage for many Americans taking on the cost of an advanced degree. The analysis has now landed firmly on the conclusion that much advanced education is a rigged game. This is… -
opinion
Capitalism: The Thing That Works
Young people now blame capitalism for poverty, racism, high prices, even climate change. They listen to people like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who says, “Capitalism … is the absolute pursuit of profit at all human, environmental, and social cost. That is not a redeemable system.” Give me a break. Yes, capitalism is often ugly. It… -
opinion
How ESG Will Destroy Your Company
On Feb. 26, 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured a “first of its kind” settlement with the Vanguard Group, which, together with BlackRock and State Street, makes up the “Big three” asset managers representing “the largest shareholders in 88 percent of S&P 500 companies.” Among other things, the press release announcing the settlement noted that “Vanguard… -
opinion
Ukraine Is Not a Cost. It Is an Opportunity.
Americans are right to ask a simple question about Ukraine: What is in this for us? That question deserves a clear and practical answer grounded in American interests. The strongest case for supporting Ukraine is not based on rhetoric or abstract appeals to the “international community,” but rather a straightforward assessment of what it means… -
opinion
Spirit Airlines and the Government’s Antitrust Follies
Ronald Reagan had a saying about how government works: “If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” His point was that bureaucrats love to “solve” problems, which inevitably creates new problems that they then “solve” again. There are few better examples of this than how… -
opinion
Work Is Good for You: The Christian Response to Communism and Laziness
Most people live for the weekend. Whether a student waiting for that last Friday bell to ring or a businessman finishing up his last meeting of the week, human beings desire to be freed from work. The most extreme form of this might be the way that many people long for retirement, a time when,… -
opinion
The Triumph of Economic Freedom?
Prices rise. People blame capitalism. Politicians promise “solutions.” President Donald Trump wants to cap credit card interest rates. My socialist mayor wants to freeze rents. Elizabeth Warren wants politicians to decide what prices are “excessive.” So I was surprised to see economist Donald J. Boudreaux’s new book titled “The Triumph of Economic Freedom.” “Economic freedom… -
opinion
Hey, Socialists, We’ve Already Figured Out the Supermarket
There are at least 76,000 supermarkets in the United States. Most of us probably have a dozen within 10 miles of home. Nevertheless, leftists are constantly trying to convince us that we need government-run grocery stores. The latest person is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has promised to open five city-run markets to… -
news
Tillis ‘Loved’ Kevin Warsh’s Fed Philosophy, But Maintains ‘No’ Vote
Sen. Thom Tillis praised President Donald Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, but he maintained that he will not support Warsh as long as Trump is investigating current chair Jerome Powell. “I look forward to supporting your nomination, and I look forward to this investigation being taken down,” the North Carolina Republican told… -
opinion
Trump’s Second Term Gains Momentum as Economy Soars, Borders Tighten
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. We’re at four months now in the new Trump second administration. And a strange thing has… -
opinion
A Way to Unshackle American Businesses and Boost the Economy
In recent comments marking the first 100 days of his second term, President Donald Trump stated that his attention will next focus on efforts to reach a “big, beautiful new deal” in Congress to enact significant reductions in federal taxes and regulations. The president’s commitment is good news for all of us. Federal taxes impose… -
news
Small Business Administration Chief Details Trump’s Carrot-And-Stick Economic Policies
At a Capitol Hill press conference Thursday, Kelly Loeffler, director of the Small Business Administration, laid out President Donald Trump’s carrot-and-stick strategy for returning manufacturing to the United States. Loeffler joined Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, to promote the Made in America Act, which would increase to $10 million the limit… -
news
Newsom Touts Calif. as World’s 4th-Largest Economy on Paper as Real Jobs Fall
THE CENTER SQUARE—California Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state is now the world’s fourth largest economy. But after accounting for the high cost of goods and services, California only barely edges out low-performing Italy, with the state’s continued losses in private sector jobs amid falling corporate and sales tax revenue painting a darker picture of the Golden… -
news
Here’s Why the World Economic Forum Is Investigating Its Own Founder
Klaus Schwab, the founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum, resigned on Easter Sunday amid a whistleblower report about alleged misuse of Forum funds, and the globalist organization’s board voted to launch an independent probe into allegations against him. “Following my recent announcement, and as I enter my 88th year, I have decided to… -
news
Report Highlights States With the Best and Worst Economic Outlook for 2025
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—A Tuesday report from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative nonprofit, highlighted the states with the best and worst economic prospects for 2025. The 18th edition of ALEC’s “Rich States, Poor States,” an annual report that examines all 50 states’ economic outlook “based on a state’s current standing in 15 state… -
news
As Experts Warn of Possible Recession, Americans Offer Mixed Reaction on State of Economy
As investment bank Goldman Sachs raised the probability of a U.S. recession from 20% to 35% at the beginning of April, Americans’ opinions on the economy continue to be mixed, according to a new poll. RMG Research conducted the national survey of 1,000 registered voters on behalf of the Napolitan Institute to poll Americans’… -
opinion
Don’t Like Trump’s Plan for the Economy? Let’s Hear Yours
Editor’s note: This is a lightly edited transcript of today’s video from Daily Signal Senior Contributor Victor Davis Hanson. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see more of his videos. Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for The Daily Signal. I’d like to talk about the economy and politics very quickly. Whether you like it or… -
opinion
DOGE vs. Economic Disaster
The Department of Government Efficiency is much in the news these days, with many of the stories focusing on federal employee layoffs and their impact on the individuals involved. While no one likes to see people lose their jobs, the mainstream media seems to view the misfortune of others as a way to advance its…