U.S. Economy
The U.S. economy is one of the most important aspects of American society. Not only does it affect citizens on a daily basis, but it is also a pivotal element in determining U.S. politics and government. This guide serves as a brief outline of the U.S. economy, beginning with the basic history of economic policy and then covering present-day federal economic organizations, private economic think tanks, sources for economic news and economic indicators.
Expand All Guide SectionsHistory of Economic Thought
To understand current economic policies and economic news, take a look at the history of economic ... read more »
Government Economic Organizations
The inner workings of U.S. government organizations provide insight into the basic principles of American economic policy and issues. Learn how each of these organizations is working to maintain and improve the U.S. economy, and what economic policy entails.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Most federal organizations post their economic policies somewhere on their Web site. If an organization you’re interested in isn’t listed in the sites below, search for the organization’s Web page to read about its economic policies and agenda.
- If you’d like to contact a political representative about an economic issue of interest (for example, taxes, social security or education funding), visit Project Vote Smart for a directory of state and local representatives.
- As you research, keep in mind the bias of the party holding the majority in each government organization. For example, as you look up economic issues on the White House Web site, remember that the current administration will favor conservative economic policies. On the other hand, more liberal policies may dominate discussion in Congress.
Dulcinea's Picks
The White House
Web site features this section on Bush’s “Council of Economic Advisers,” currently headed by Chairman Edward P. Lazear. Find recent speeches and statements delivered by the president, executive economists, budget directors and others. Go to “Publications” for economic analysis, forecasting, issues key to the U.S. economy and U.S. economic strategies for growth.
The U.S. Department of State
presents “Trade and Economics.” The purpose of this online publication is to discuss economic news and issues. Take a look at “Issues in Focus” for a list of the most pressing topics in American economics, including “Biotechnology” and “USA and the WTO”, among others.
The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee
assesses the U.S. economy. Recent news is posted on the home page; go to “Reports” for current, in-depth economic analysis. “Hearings” lists topics Congress will discuss or has recently discussed. Click any hearing title for a list of participants and to download PDFs of the charts and data used during the hearing.
The United States Senate Committee on Finance
allows you to access economic reviews conducted by the Senate. Go to “Hearings” for top-priority discussions. Watch the hearings live or post-discussion through RealPlayer (available on the site).
Economic Think Tanks
Think tanks unaffiliated with the government can serve as good sources of nonpartisan economic ... read more »
News About the Economy
These sources offer the most readable, immediate economic news. If you want to find out what ... read more »
Economic Indicators
Economic indicators measure the economy based on how it is projected to perform. As a result, they ... read more »
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