I want to propose a four-part test for measuring any particular bill on health care cost control. short run long run Federal deficit 1 2 Government health care spending X 3 Private health care spending X 4 In each case, I will define the test so that “yes” is a good outcome: Test 1: The […]
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Tag Archives: 43
Parsing the President’s health care reform letter
3 June 2009 
11 Comments
The White House has released a letter from the President to the two Senate Chairmen who are working on (different) versions of health care reform: Senator Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. The letter is dated yesterday and […]
Read moreBasic facts on the General Motors bankruptcy
1 June 2009 29 Comments
In a few hours I will offer my thoughts and reactions to the General Motors bankruptcy filing and the President’s noon announcement. For now, here is what I have been able to figure out from the White House fact sheet and secondary source reporting through CNBC and the Wall Street Journal. I assume that both […]
Read more Understanding the President’s CAFE announcement
19 May 2009 126 Comments
(Editorial note: I was doing so well moving to shorter posts. I fail miserably in achieving that goal here. I went the comprehensive route instead. I promise to return to shorter posts in the future. Buckle up – this is a long ride. I hope you find it’s worth it.) (Update: There’s an important correction […]
Read moreSlowing health cost growth requires information AND incentives
21 April 2009 6 Comments
When I was growing up, I was taught that you change the oil in your car every 3,000 miles. Suppose I take my three-year old car to Jiffy Lube for an oil change. Jiffy Lube has all the latest information technology, as well as good data on both manufacturers’ recommendations and best practices. After entering […]
Read moreA quick guide to the G-20 summit
1 April 2009 6 Comments
The President has arrived in London for the G-20 economic summit.
Read more Auto loans, part 3: the Bush approach
29 March 2009 8 Comments
As you hear news about the President’s announcement tomorrow, it may help you to consider the approach taken by President Bush. The loans we provided in December set the initial conditions and context for President Obama’s decision.
Read more Bonuses and the peril of Congressional hindsight
27 March 2009 9 Comments
Hindsight is not an appropriate basis for evaluating a contract, and Congress should not change the rules of the game retroactively.
Read more Is $700 billion enough?
27 March 2009 7 Comments
I think President Obama will soon need to ask Congress for more TARP funding, and that such a request will displace his legislative agenda for a while.
Read moreThe transition, my new role, and the mailing list archive
20 January 2009 Comments Off
Q: This blog launched in late March of 2009, and yet there are more than 40 posts dated in 2007 and 2008. Why? A: While working for President Bush, I had a mailing list titled White House Economics, which I used to explain the President’s economic policies. This blog and the associated mailing list are […]
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