Maxwell School News and Commentary

“People are taking their cues from political leadership and from doctors, and to the extent that those are different, people will turn to their more trusted sources,” says Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science.

Professor Mary Lovely was interviewed for the Christian Science Monitor about the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on creating a more globalized world, while other professionals argue less globalization impact. 

"Historically, grandparents have always provided care," says University Professor Madonna Harrington Meyer. "What we’re seeing now is grandparents providing care that looks a lot more like parenting: more hours and more tasks."

Fears of recession are growing, especially in the business community, and the question is whether that uncertainty will spread to consumers. "We won’t see that until we start to see a real slowdown in hiring," says Professor of Economics Mary Lovely.

Already production of shoes, apparel, toys and other "footloose" industries has been shifting from China to Vietnam and other countries, partly due to rising wages in China, says Mary Lovely, professor of economics.

"Both sides are finding out that trade wars are painful," says Mary Lovely, professor of economics. "The Chinese economy is slowing. ...Foreign investment into the U.S. is down, and there is concern about domestic investment moving forward."

"A president might do all kinds of inappropriate things, but if members of Congress don’t want to impeach the president, the president won’t be impeached," says Steven White, assistant professor of political science.

U.S. tariffs will “drive up costs for U.S.-based manufacturers and disadvantage American workers competing in global markets,” due to the additional costs they will inject into the supply chain, according to Mary Lovely, professor of economics.

"This could be a good year [for newcomers], given the surge in excitement and the willingness of donors to support what would in other years have been considered pretty long-shot candidates," says Danielle Thomsen, assistant professor of political science.