Wrap Up for November 2025

There's been a rise in 30-year government bond yields across much of the G10.

Some supply side markups can make tariff costs higher than initial estimates. What can get hidden is who actually benefits.

An interview with Hanno Lustig.

The global appetite for chocolate is still growing. What if chocolate could be lab grown?

We had it relatively easy for eighty years. But what comes now?

Inflation has become the main financial challenge for many.

What is an abundance movement good for, exactly?

Argentina is an apt example why dollarization isn't a currency solution for other nations. And, further considerations why the math simply doesn't work.

The EU lacks the fiscal space to do what is needed, indeed, Germany stands in the way of doing so.

People continue to adapt and find ways to deal with inflation.

A visual for the wealthiest nations.

Rice fields have become a host for migrating birds, and farmers are finding it beneficial to work with these migrations as well.

The case for high-skilled immigration remains relevant.

Even though inflation is running at 3 percent, that's certainly not the way our grocery bills feel.

Affordability hasn't worked out as well for Republicans as they had hoped.

An in-depth look at the economics of the baby bust.

Florida is currently the most rent-burdened state.

The private sector is stepping up to the plate for jobs data. However, much is still missing.

Some are convinced this is a rough historical moment for degree holders.

Despite the negatives of political polarization, it has increased voter numbers to a great extent. Plus, the Supreme Court continues to grapple with presidential power when it comes to tariffs.

How have Trump's tariffs impacted trade in services?

Just a handful of nations are responsible for much of global shipping capacity.

In his six month anniversary post, Robin Brooks highlights his main themes.

Stablecoin use in a new era of fiscal dominance.

How has anxiety medication changed in the last seven decades?

There are multiple paths and time frames for becoming a U.S. citizen.

A 50 year mortgage wouldn't be near as advantageous for consumers as some imagine.

It's never a good idea to give intellectual cover to authoritarianism.

The U.S. particularly benefits from international flows of doctors and nurses.

Ancient Roman territories were surprisingly well connected.

Rising insurance costs due to changing climate conditions, are also changing housing markets.

The first chapter of Brian Potter's recent book, examines what production processes actually consist of.

A visual for the nations which now share $111 trillion in global debt.

Prosperity is still real in the U.S. But how do we - once again - make it visible and tangible?

When it comes to affordability, some politicians aren't willing to face the realities of basic economics.

In the last decade, younger women have expressed a greater desire to migrate away from the U.S.

Barry Eichengreen discusses "Deficits and Debt in the Lens of History."

So far, the new debasement trade isn't about moving away from the dollar, it's more a broader loss of confidence in fiat currencies altogether.

Does the economy no longer work for younger people? Derek Thompson takes a closer look.

Globalization raised living standards across the world, but it also led to considerable geographic inequalities.

China's people have been working harder than ever, but for fewer gains.

How might one think about oil and gas consumption in the near future? It depends on other forms of energy adoption and how they actually play out.

Which North American cities have gained the most population since 2005?

Why has it become more difficult for countries to overcome extreme poverty?

Economic concerns are one of the main things uniting an otherwise polarized U.S.

Nut trees are providing farmers with much needed biodiversity. I'm especially partial to the pecan trees that are native to my area.

"Affordability" isn't an easy term to pin down, despite its recent popularity.

Trump's AI policy is quite different from the rest of his trade agenda.

What a paradox! "US tariffs on China became protection for non-Chinese exporters."

Voters and economists are of different minds when it comes to taxes.

What happens when people give up on the prospect of home ownership?

China is becoming a world leader in pharmaceuticals.

Scott Sumner responds to two recent posts from David Beckworth.

Which nations drink the most coffee? Also, a visual for rare earth reserves around the globe.

A global calculation of wild animals by weight, brought some surprising results. 

Unemployment rates for high school graduates versus college graduates: what has changed?

In 2024, about one in seven residents in the U.S. were foreign-born. 

A history of density changes over time, via upzoning and downzoning.

Visualizing productivity changes of the thirty largest economies in the last twenty years.

Some macroeconomic musings for Thanksgiving.

Surprisingly, China now depends on exports less than its peers.

How much has Hong Kong's identity actually changed?

China may not be as determined now to "double down" on industrial policy.

Once again, the Beverage curve trap has been proven to be a mirage. Yet basic monetary economics could have provided what was needed.

Auerbach and Gale review U.S. budget trends.

In the semiconductor industry, factory building costs nonetheless reduce profits from technological gains.

Neil Irwin notes that for Social Security, the day of reckoning is almost at hand. It is no longer a "far-off" problem.