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Obama hits new low in polls

Dick Taffe — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:57:39 +0000

With all eyes toward November’s mid-term elections, a new Washington Post/ABC poll shows only 43 percent of Americans approving the job President Obama is doing on the economy, a new low for him. A new CBS poll has that number at 40 percent, with 54 percent disapproving. Political science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective,” says studies show voters’ memories are short so if the economy were to recover over the next few months there would still be hope for the Democrats in the fall.

“But the Democrats are very vulnerable because Obama, supposedly a great communicator, has failed to tell voters a story that they can understand of why the state of the economy isn’t his fault and why the steps he’s taken to address it make sense. So at this point, the Democrats’ future is out of their control.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

State of the Union address

Dick Taffe — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:55:13 +0000

President Obama has hinted that some of his State of the Union address on Wednesday will propose some economic relief for middle-class families. But what else? Political Science Professor Graham Wilson, author of “Only in America? American Politics in Comparative Perspective,” says Obama must define what his overall strategy will be moving forward.

“An expert commission on the deficit will accomplish nothing practically, but might work politically.”

Contact Graham Wilson, 617-353-2540, gkwilson@bu.edu

Volker’s return to influence

Dick Taffe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:31:14 +0000

Paul Volker appears to be regaining influence in Washington as President Obama enbraces the former Federal Reserve chairman’s plan to keep banks from engaging in risky investment speculation. Law Professor Cornelius Hurley, director of the Morin Center for Banking and Financial Law and a former counsel to the Fed Board of Governors, says it’s about time.

“Obama’s listening to Paul Volcker is long overdue. This is a hopeful sign of sounder proposals to come from the Administration on financial and economic matters.”

Contact Cornelius Hurley, 617-353-5427, ckhurley@bu.edu

The G-8 agenda

Tom Testa — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:49:17 +0000

G-8 website

As President Obama joins the leaders of the world’s top eight economies at the G-8 summit in Italy, the success of this gathering is already being debated. The world economy and climate change are top agenda items the leaders will tackle. Available to dicuss what kind of outcome we can expect from the G-8 is Kevin P. Gallagher, professor of international relations and an advisor on trade and development policies to a number of national governments, international institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Gallagher can be reached at (617) 353-9348 or kpg@bu.edu

Signed letter by academic economists in support of bailout plan

Jo Breiner — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 23:20:03 +0000

In response to last week’s signed letter by economists, sent to congressional leaders opposing the government bailout plan, a group of academic economists lead by Boston University’s Laurence Kotlikoff, have signed a letter in support of the plan before Congress dealing with the financial crisis.

Below is that letter, addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate, along with the names and affiliations of those in favor of the plan.

ECONOMISTS PEN LETTER TO CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF BAILOUT PLAN