US Economic Experts Panel

The Clark Center for Global Markets explores economists’ views on vital policy issues via our US and European Economic Experts Panels. We regularly poll over 80 economists on a range of timely and relevant topics. Panelists not only have the opportunity to respond to a poll’s statements, but an opportunity to comment and provide additional resources, if they wish. The Clark Center then shares the results with the public in a straightforward and concise format.

Please note that from September 2022, the language in our polls will use just two modifiers to refer to the size of an effect:

‘Substantial’: when an effect is large enough that it would make a difference that matters for the behavior involved.
‘Measurable’: when the direction of the effect is clear, but perhaps experts would differ as to whether it is substantial.

Election Economic Policy Ideas

Question A:

Giving the President more direct influence over monetary policy would lead to substantially worse monetary policy decisions.

Responses

14%

80%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

Question B:

Imposing tariffs results in a substantial portion of the tariffs being borne by consumers of the country that enacts the tariffs, through price increases.

Responses

52%

43%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

Question C:

There is little empirical evidence that price gouging is causing high grocery prices.

Responses

43%

34%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

Question D:

Widespread use of price controls creates substantial economic distortions.

Responses

20%

68%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

International Trade & Exchange Rates

September 10, 2024

National Rent Caps

Question A:

Capping annual rent increases by corporate landlords at 5%, as proposed by President Biden, would make middle-income Americans substantially better off over the next ten years.

Responses

16%

58%

16%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

Question B:

Capping annual rent increases at 5%, as proposed by President Biden, would substantially reduce the amount of available apartments for rent over the next ten years.

Responses

22%

44%

18%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

Question C:

Capping annual rent increases at 5%, as proposed by President Biden, would substantially reduce US income inequality over the next ten years.

Responses

13%

53%

22%

Source: Clark Center Economic Experts Panel
Methodology

Investment, Infrastructure, & Cities

July 23, 2024

Tax Cuts Extension

This US survey examines (a) All else equal, making permanent the 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire at the end of 2025 would substantially increase federal deficits and the federal debt over the coming decade; (b) All else equal, making permanent the 2017 tax cuts that were set to expire at the end of 2025 would measurably increase the rate of US economic growth over the coming decade, (c) In the US, given Congressional budget scoring rules, temporary tax cuts generate sufficient pressure for extension as to be effectively permanent

Economic Growth, Development, & Productivity

July 16, 2024

Publicly Traded Firms, Private Firms and the Economy

This US survey examines (a) The lower willingness of private firms to go public, combined with the increased number of publicly traded firms being taken private over the last 25 years, is measurably net negative for economic growth; (b) All else equal, reducing regulatory barriers (including reporting requirements such as Sarbanes Oxley 404) to public listing would substantially increase the share of publicly traded firms in the economy; (c) The lack of transparency about unlisted private firms' financial performance substantially hinders the efficiency of the allocation of capital

Business, Management, & Corporate Performance

July 3, 2024

Regulating AI

This US survey examines: (a) Antitrust investigations of the dominant firms in artificial intelligence are likely to lead to substantially lower prices of AI products and services for businesses and consumers; (b) Antitrust investigations of the dominant firms in artificial intelligence are likely to promote greater competition and innovation in AI; (c) Potential harms from artificial intelligence are better assessed by market deployment rather than seeking to slow the pace of AI research and implementation

Regulation, Competition, & Market Power

June 18, 2024

Tariffs on Chinese Electric Vehicles

This US survey examines (a) The proposed US tariffs on Chinese EVs would lead to measurably higher employment in the US automotive industry over the next five years; (b) The proposed US tariffs on Chinese EVs would lead to measurably higher prices of EVs in the US; (c) The proposed US tariffs on Chinese EVs would measurably slow the adoption of green technology by consumers

Environment, Climate Change, & Natural Resources

May 29, 2024

Drug Policy

This US survey examines (a) Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would lead to measurably higher social welfare

Democracy, Government, & Public Policy

May 14, 2024

Tariffs

This US survey examines (a) Tripling existing import taxes on Chinese steel and aluminum products would lead to measurably higher employment in the US steel industry over the next five years; (b) Tripling the tariffs would lead to measurably higher steel and aluminum prices for American producers and measurably higher finished-good prices for American consumers; (c) The gains for the American economy from tripling the tariffs would measurably outweigh the losses.

International Trade & Exchange Rates

April 30, 2024

Test Scores and College Admissions

This US survey examines (a) Universities that abandon temporary pandemic test-optional policies and return to requiring standardized test scores for admissions will create measurably enhanced opportunities for potentially high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds.

Education & Skills

April 16, 2024

Supermarket Merger

This US survey examines: The FTC is opposed to Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons. Critics argue that with sufficient divestitures, the deal would be consistent with past FTC policies; (a) Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would lead to substantially higher grocery prices and/or lower product quality/services for their customers (b) Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would have a substantially negative effect on the two companies’ workers; (c) The public interest would be better served if antitrust policy were changed so that when a proposed merger means a market will reach a certain level of concentration, the onus is on the merging parties to show that consumers and workers will not be harmed.

Business, Management, & Corporate Performance

March 27, 2024