The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Surging Export Similarity is Fueling Advanced Economy Trade Tensions With China
English Summary
The primary finding is that the increasing similarity between China's export basket and those of advanced economies is fueling significant trade tensions, surpassing mere global current-account imbalances. This overlap is driven by China's massive government-subsidized pushes into sectors like electric vehicles and machinery, causing advanced economies to absorb a disproportionate share of Chinese exports. The article argues that unilateral tariffs are ineffective because overcapacity is simply redirected, necessitating a global solution. Policy requires a multilateral agreement with coordinated triggers and responses, coupled with a mechanism to lift restrictions once China demonstrably cuts its subsidies.
中文摘要
主要發現指出,中國的出口結構(出口籃子)與先進經濟體的相似性日益增加,正在引發重大的貿易緊張局勢,其嚴重性已超越單純的全球當期帳不平衡問題。這種重疊現象源於中國在電動汽車和機械等領域的大規模政府補貼推動,導致先進經濟體不得不承擔了過度的中國出口份額。本文論點認為,單邊關稅是無效的,因為過剩產能只是被轉移,因此需要一個全球性的解決方案。政策層面要求建立一個多邊協定,其中包含協調的觸發機制和應對措施,並結合一個機制,一旦中國證明削減了補貼,便能解除限制。
Related Entries
-
1.
-
2.
The article argues that Donald Trump's unique and prolonged lame-duck period, coupled with domestic political pressures, makes him dangerously prone to international instability. Having exhausted major diplomatic gambits, Trump is expected to channel his energy into high-stakes, unilateral actions, primarily targeting adversaries such as Iran and Cuba. These potential actions—ranging from fresh strikes in the Persian Gulf to attempts at regime change—carry a significant risk of destabilizing regional security and triggering a global economic crisis. Policymakers must anticipate this pivot to high-risk foreign policy to mitigate potential international flare-ups.
-
3.
China's economic strategy is characterized by a persistent 'economics of denial,' prioritizing massive state-directed investment in advanced technology over addressing weak domestic consumption. This approach is rooted in a flawed belief that controlling physical capital will automatically generate productivity and wage growth, ignoring the structural imbalance where domestic demand consistently falls short of supply. This overinvestment and underconsumption model is unsustainable. Consequently, Beijing's policies will continue to generate global deflationary pressures and escalating trade friction, necessitating a fundamental pivot toward consumption-led growth for long-term stability.
-
4.
The Blue Wave signals significant voter frustration with cost of living and inflation, giving Congress a mandate to prioritize affordability and cost-reduction measures. Economically, the rapid build-out of AI data centers is creating localized stress, driving up skilled labor wages and straining resources, while also facing constraints from power grids and potential local regulatory backlash. Policymakers must manage this 'sequencing issue'—addressing rising costs before full productivity gains from AI can materialize—and anticipate shifts in global data center infrastructure as the market matures.
-
5.
The built environment workforce, comprising 15.3 million workers across 95 occupations, is foundational to modern infrastructure and economic stability. While highly paid, the workforce suffers from significant demographic imbalances, being disproportionately white and male, and often lacking clear career progression pathways. To prevent project delays and cost overruns, policy must mandate that capital asset owners treat labor market forecasting as core to project planning. Strategic interventions are required to strengthen career pipelines through robust apprenticeships, improve retention, and actively recruit younger and more diverse workers.