Nightly Nuance - February 22, 2021

Hello my friends. This week on the Nightly Nuance, I want us to explore the Biden vision for the American economy in three segments: 

Today: The macroeconomics of the American Rescue Plan 

Tuesday: How electricity works in the United States 

Wednesday: Biden's vision around electric vehicles 

So much of what the new administration hopes to accomplish centers on energy and infrastructure, so I hope this week we can think critically about where we sit today and where we'd like to be down the road. 

Since we're all in different places on terms of knowledge (and interest), I thought we'd begin by discussing how we define the problems the American Rescue Plan is trying to solve: what we mean by money supply, GDP, inflation, debts, and deficits. I also talk a little about where the economy sits today and how incredibly challenging it is to tailor relief that meets the moment. 

My conclusion is that the American Rescue Plan encompasses 3 different kinds of provisions: (1) actual rescue/disaster relief; (2) more traditional stimulus; and (3) provisions that start to move us toward Biden's overall economic agenda (the Build Back Better initiative). 

I read an overwhelming amount of articles and policy papers preparing for this episode. Here are some of the most helpful/interesting/provocative pieces: 

A Shake-up in the Ranks of Powerhouse Cities 

Where $10k per American in Covid Relief Has Gone

For Meaningful Federal Aid to States, Why Not Reimburse Unemployment Compensation Payments?   

The Biden Team Wants to Transform the Economy. Really.  

If you're really into this stuff, check out Ezra Klein's conversation with Paul Krugman from late January. 

Have the best available Monday! 

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