Michael R. Strain

Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, economists and commentators have been discussing generative AI’s possible effects on productivity. But from a cultural and political perspective, it is useful to ask a normative question: How much productivity growth should society desire?

My Project Syndicate column.

How Much AI-Driven Productivity Growth Do We Want? Michael R. Strain argues that the benefits of substantial gains would outweigh the costs in advanced economies.

We live in a populist age. Widespread discontent has swept unlikely politicians to the top of both political parties, and those politicians are pursuing unorthodox policies to respond to the concerns of the American people, with a particular focus on workers. This impulse can be seen on both the left and the right, from President Trump to Mayor-elect Mamdani. Critics of populism – myself included – should be among the first to acknowledge that this impulse to focus on the problems facing American workers is both welcome and long overdue. Unfortunately, the solutions being offered by today’s populists – namely protectionism, nationalism, and larger, more heavy-handed government – simply won’t fix the problems they purport to solve. But what reforms would? How, in a populist age, can policymakers actually deliver more prosperity to the Americans who need it most?

Populism won’t help U.S. workers. Here’s what will | George W. Bush Presidential Center Protection, nationalism, and government intrusion won’t fix the U.S. economy. Doing that will take removing the barriers to upward mobility.