Presidents Have Less Power over the Economy Than You Might Think

“It’s the economy, stupid!” As strategic leader of Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign, James Carville coined this notorious slogan, which contains some truth about presidential politics that continues to hold: Americans care deeply about the economy and will likely choose the candidate who – they think – will create more jobs and prosperity. But how much power over the economy does a president actually have? Forces beyond the president’s control largely determine the economic trajectory during any four-year period, argues economics writer Neil Irwin in The New York Times. getAbstract recommends Irwin’s editorial to anybody interested in moving beyond political rhetoric and looking at the factors that actually make the economy tick.