Martin Feldstein
George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
Member of the Board, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Contact:
Telephone: 617-868-3900
Email: mfeldstein@harvard.edu
Website: http://www.nber.org/feldstein
October 8, 2009
"A Better Way to Health Reform"
Op-Ed, Washington Post
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
"The American health-care system suffers from three serious problems: Health-care costs are rising much faster than our incomes. More than 15 percent of the population has neither private nor public insurance. And the high cost of health care can lead to personal bankruptcy, even for families that do have health insurance," says Martin Feldstein, member of the board at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center.
AP Photo
September 21, 2009
"Global Impact of U.S. Housing Crisis"
Op-Ed, The Korea Herald
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
The bursting of America's housing bubble in the summer of 2006 triggered the global financial crisis and recession. The sharp fall in house prices that followed caused a dramatic downturn in household wealth, leading to lower consumer spending and an overall fall in GDP. By now, wealth in the form of owner-occupied housing is down about 30 percent, equivalent to a loss of more than $6 trillion of household wealth.
AP Photo
September 7, 2009
"ObamaCare's Crippling Deficits"
Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
Martin Feldstein believes that while the deficits caused by the fiscal stimulus package will end in 2011 and will help to sustain a fragile recovery in 2010, the deficits projected for the longer term are a threat to our economic future. The starting point for controlling those future deficits is for Congress to abandon the administration's health-care plan-a plan that will cost more than $1 trillion.
August 27, 2009
"America's Mortgage Meltdown"
Op-Ed, The Age
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
"The bursting of America's housing bubble in the northern summer of 2006 triggered the global financial crisis and recession," argues Martin Feldstein, a member of the board at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. "The sharp fall in house prices that followed dramatically reduced household wealth, leading to lower consumer spending and a fall in gross domestic product," Feldstein says.
AP Photo
August 19, 2009
"ObamaCare Is All About Rationing"
Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
The best solution to this problem of private overconsumption of health services would be to eliminate the tax rule that is causing the excessive insurance and the resulting rise in health spending. Alternatively, Congress could strengthen the incentives in the existing law for health savings accounts with high insurance copayments. Either way, the result would be more cost-conscious behavior that would lower health-care spending.
AP Photo
August 8, 2009
"How to Save an ‘Underwater’ Mortgage"
Op-Ed, Wall Street Journal
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
Borrowers should get relief now, and the banks should get a guarantee down the road.
July 29, 2009
"U.S. saving rate and dollar's future"
Op-Ed, The Korea Herald
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
The increase in the household saving rate reduces America's need for foreign funds to finance its business investment and residential construction. Taken by itself, today's $750 billion annual rate of household saving could replace that amount in capital inflows from the rest of the world.
AP Photo
July 28, 2009
"Obama's Plan Isn't the Answer"
Op-Ed, Washington Post
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
For the 85 percent of Americans with health insurance, President Obama's plan is bad news.
AP Photo
June 30, 2009
"Will carbon cap-and-trade incite protectionism?"
Op-Ed, The Korea Herald
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
"There is no easy answer to this problem. But before rushing to impose tariffs, it is important to remember that cap-and-trade policies would not be the only government source of differences in competitiveness. Better roads, ports, and even schools all contribute to a country`s competitiveness."
AP Photo
June 28, 2009
"The Fed must reassure markets on inflation"
Op-Ed, Financial Times
By Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University
"The simplest explanation for the higher 10-year rate is that many investors now expect inflation to rise. Although economic weakness and excess capacity are keeping current inflation low, the explosive rise of bank reserves created by Fed policy provides fuel for future inflation. The prospective decline of the dollar is also a potential source of inflation."
