Economists blast the Trump administration for rooting for a weak dollar
The editorial board of The Wall Street Journal skewered the Trump administration after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin championed "a weaker dollar" in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. "Someone ought to tell these fellows the history of strong- and weak-dollar presidencies," the Journal wrote in response to Mnuchin's comment to reporters that a weak dollar is "not a concern of ours at all."
The Trump administration's argument is that "a weaker dollar is good for trade" because it could potentially boost exports, making American-made items more appealing for foreign buyers. On the other hand, foreign goods would become more expensive to U.S. buyers and "Americans don't live in an economic bubble," The Wall Street Journal scolded:
A strong dollar has traditionally been considered an indicator of a healthy economy. "You run the risk of not just talking down the dollar but talking people out of buying U.S. equities and U.S. bonds as well," High Frequency Economics' Jim O'Sullivan told Politico of Mnuchin's comments. "You can end up with higher interest rates and lower equity prices. It's really playing with fire."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Week's Jeff Spross disagrees, though, writing that "the strong dollar policy was a bad call" to begin with. Read why he thinks President Trump should go ahead and smash the dollar here.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Properties of the week: dreamy ski chalets
The Week Recommends Featuring homes in Norway, Austria and France
By The Week UK Published
-
The inmate firefighters tackling the wildfires in Los Angeles
In The Spotlight Convicts sent into the danger zone make around $27 for a 24-hour shift
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Should dogs go vegan?
Podcast Plus, is the US finally closing Guantanamo? And are public toilets an endangered species?
By The Week UK Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Boeing machinists approve contract, end strike
Speed Read The company's largest union approved the new contract offer, ending a seven-week strike
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published