In the first episode of “The Two-Handed Economist,” Center for Tax and Budget Policy director John W. Diamond dives into the economic fallout from the Trump administration’s sweeping new tariffs.
He unpacks the market turmoil, rising consumer costs, and global retaliation, arguing that these policies may do more harm than good. With a focus on historical lessons and practical alternatives, Diamond lays the foundation for this new podcast by bringing clarity to complex economic issues.
Mentioned in this episode:
“Innovation and Trade Policy in a Globalized World” by Ufuk Akcigit (University of Chicago, NBER, CEPR), Sina T. Ates (Federal Reserve Board), and Giammario Impullitti (University of Nottingham), 2021.
This episode was recorded on April 15, 2025. Subscribe and listen to “The Two-Handed Economist” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
A full transcript of this episode is available here. This transcript was AI-generated and has not been through editorial review.
“The Two-Handed Economist” delivers timely analysis of economic news from John Diamond, director of the Baker Institute Center for Tax and Budget Policy. Each week, John dives deep into the latest policy developments — mostly at the federal level, but with insights now and again into Texas and Houston finance as well.
Why a two-handed economist? President Harry Truman famously asked for a one-handed economist, tired of hearing, “On the one hand, this,” and “On the other hand, that.” John embraces the complexity that a one-handed economist might shy away from, explaining how it all adds up for consumers, businesses, and policymakers.
This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the individual author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
