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Robert Reich

Robert B. Reich, a co-founder of The American Prospect, is a Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. His website can be found here and his blog can be found here.

Recent Articles

A Stimulus Right Now, Aimed at Lower-Wage Workers

Robert ReichDec 19, 2001

Broadcast September 27, 2001


Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has told Congress to wait and see what happens before enacting a stimulus package. Congress is heeding his advice. It shouldn't. A stimulus is needed right away.


Even before the September 11th terrorist attack, American consumers were in a deep funk. Personal savings rates were nearing a 70-year low, and debt was at record heights. Jobs were already disappearing. No wonder that, according to the Conference Board survey released this week, September marked the largest one-month drop in consumer confidence since October 1990, and almost all that survey was done before the terrorist attack.


Best place to invest surplus: our children

Robert ReichDec 19, 2001

USA Today

To listen to the White House and Republicans, you'd think the biggest
choice facing the nation is whether to use projected budget surpluses to
"save Social Security," as the White House proposes, or to cut taxes
across the board, as Congressional Republicans propose.

Because the polls show most Americans want both, you can bet that
whatever emerges will be a mushy combination.

Is this really the Great Debate we ought to be having?

The Fiscal Response Is Too Tepid

Robert ReichDec 19, 2001

Broadcast Oct 5, 2001


Alan Greenspan is pushing on a wet noodle. The Fed has repeatedly cut interest rates since January and nothing's happened which means that we shouldn't expect this week's half percent rate cut to have much impact either. Even figuring in the normal time lag between a rate cut and response, the fact is this economy just isn't responding.


Luckily the car has two accelerators. If the Fed's monetary policy isn't enough, there's fiscal policy. This week, the president lent his support to a stimulus package of between $60 billion and $75 billion in the form of additional tax cuts and spending.


Use the Budget Surplus for Universal Health Care

Robert ReichDec 19, 2001

Los Angeles Times




Senate Democrats have managed to whittle George W 's tax cut from $1.6 trillion to $1.2 trillion. Big deal. Last year, Bill Clinton vetoed a $700 billion tax cut. And once the Senate tax bill goes to conference with the House, it's sure to be back up there where Bush wants it.


Democrats can't fight Bush's tax cut with nothing but an admonition that it's "too large." They need to put something else on the table that's important to working Americans -- and which won't be possible if the surplus is used for Bush's tax cut. That something is universal health care.


The Wrong War

Robert ReichDec 19, 2001

The Financial Times

Like generals preparing to fight the old war, the world's central bankers are
still obsessed with inflation. They should be looking forward to the real
enemy: deflation.

Look around the world and what you see are identical policies in favour of
trimming public spending, cutting debt, raising interest rates and squeezing
money supply.

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