Dean Baker
Co-Founder and Senior Economist, Center for Economic and Policy Research
Chapter Member: Maryland-Washington, D.C. SSN
Areas of Expertise:
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About Dean
Baker has done considerable work on the finances of Social Security and retirement income, and has also done collaborated with colleagues to study the impact of labor market protections on unemployment. He has also examined the ways in which the rules of the market have been structured to redistribute income upward. This includes analysis of Federal Reserve Board policy, trade policy, and patent policy, especially with respect to prescription drugs. He has worked with a large number of labor unions, advocacy groups (on retirement issues: AARP and the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare), and community based organizations (e.g. Center for Community Action, National People’s Action, ACORN).
Contributions
What a Tax on Wall Street Speculation Can Do for America
Key Findings Brief,
Fighting Rigged Markets Promotes Equal Opportunity
Key Findings Brief,
In the News
"Coloradans Should Pay Fair Prices for Prescription Drugs," Dean Baker (with ), Opinion, The Colorado Sun, February 21, 2021.
Dean Baker quoted on speed of job automation by Matt Simon, "If Robots Steal So Many Jobs, Why Aren't They Saving Us Now?" Wired, March 23, 2020.
Dean Baker quoted on candidate endorsements by Sahil Kapur, "Elizabeth Warren Picks up a Slew of New Progressive Endorsements" NBC News Online, January 28, 2020.
Dean Baker quoted on the obscure but influential role of the CBO by David Dayen, "Congress’s Biggest Obstacle" The American Prospect , January 28, 2020.
Dean Baker quoted on tight labor market by Rebecca Rainey, "A Bad Weekend for Trump Immigration Policies" Politico, September 30, 2019.
"CEOs Say Shareholders Won’t Be No. 1 Anymore. Turns Out They Already Weren’t.," Dean Baker, Washington post, August 20, 2019.
Dean Baker quoted on manufacturing job growth by Joseph S. Pete, "Manufacturing Job Growth Continues to Slow, with U.S. Adding Only a Fifth as Many Factory Jobs as Last Year " The Times Online, June 11, 2019.
Dean Baker's research on labor market trends discussed by , "Men Aged 25-34 Now Working at the Highest Rate Since the Recession," MarketWatch, April 6, 2019.
"Bernie Sanders Wants Corporations to Fulfill Trump's Tax Cut Promise," Dean Baker, The Hill, November 21, 2018.
Dean Baker quoted by Alex Smith, "Uncertainty over Health Care Law's Future Hobbles Entrepreneurs" National Public Radio, September 23, 2017.
Dean Baker quoted by Marc Hay, "Trump's Quiet Campaign Against Government Workers" VIce, September 22, 2017.
Dean Baker quoted by Michael E. Kanell, "Equifax Breach Could Shake Consumer Confidence, Cut Spending" The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, September 19, 2017.
Dean Baker quoted by Irina Ivanova, "5 Issues Luring in the GOP's Tax Reform Plan" CBS News, September 18, 2017.
Dean Baker quoted on larger deficits in the context of a weak economy by Max Ehrenfreund, "Why Trump Just Might be Able to Solve a Nasty Problem Facing the U.S. Economy" The Washington Post, November 11, 2016.
Theda Skocpol quoted on debating Trump by Michael Tomasky, Jack Meserve, and Sophia Crabbe-Field, "How to Debate Trump" Democracy Journal, September 23, 2016.
"Should the Fed Raise Interest Rates? A History Lesson Suggests the Answer is ‘No’," Dean Baker, Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2016.
Dean Baker quoted on expanding Social Security by Michael Hiltzik, "Obama's Call for Expanding Social Security Could be a Game-Changer" Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2016.
"Scamming the Country’s Veterans: Efforts to Privatize VA Health System," Dean Baker, Huffington Post, April 25, 2016.
Dean Baker quoted on job prospects for the laid-off by Don Lee, "Laid-Off Americans are Finally Returning to the Labor Market: Will They Find Jobs?" Los Angeles Times, April 1, 2016.
Dean Baker quoted on Bernie's proposed productivity growth by Matt Yglesias, "Top Democratic Economists Don't Think Much of Bernienomics. He Doesn’t Care." Vox, February 18, 2016.
Dean Baker quoted on trade deficits by Tatiana Darie, "How a Stronger Dollar Could Play Havoc with Politics in 2016" Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2016.
Dean Baker quoted on Sanders' Social Security plan by Daniel Marans, "Bernie Sanders' Social Security Plan Gets A Huge Boost" Huffington Post, January 5, 2016.
Dean Baker quoted on Piketty's success by Nelson D. Schwartz, "Economists Take Aim at Wealth Inequality" New York Times, January 3, 2016.
"Rubio’s Welfare Idea Seems Newer if You’re Unaware It Was Implemented 20 Years Ago," Dean Baker, FAIR, October 30, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on tightening financial regulations by Max Ehrenfreund, "Hillary Clinton May be Ready to Break Up the Big Banks" The Washington Post, October 9, 2015.
"Why is Donald Trump's Tax Plan Ridiculed but the TPP Deal Gets a Pass?," Dean Baker, The Guardian, October 6, 2015.
"Washington Post Won’t Let Journalistic Integrity Stand in the Way of Scaring You Away from Sanders," Dean Baker, FAIR, October 1, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on eliminating corporate tax loopholes by David Weigel, "Trump’s Tax Plan Calms Conservatives Worried about a Populist Moment" The Washington Post, September 28, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the impact of living longer on health care cost increases by Helaine Olen, "Chris Christie Said Social Security is Going Insolvent. Oh, Come On." Slate, September 17, 2015.
"New Yorker Calls Corbyn ‘Childlike’ - but Who are They Kidding?," Dean Baker, FAIR, September 15, 2015.
"Supporting Bernie Sanders because He Supports Workers? David Brooks Thinks You Have a Mental Problem," Dean Baker, In These Times, September 11, 2015.
"A Fed Rate Hike Will Harm the Economy, Why Don't the Candidates Seem to Care?," Dean Baker, Counter Punch, September 10, 2015.
Guest to discuss the outlook for Fed monetary policy on Bloomberg Business: What'd You Miss?, Dean Baker, September 3, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on individual economic decision making by Bryce Covert, "If Social Security Had Been in Private Accounts the Stock Market Drop Could Have Been a Disaster" Think Progress, August 24, 2015.
"Workers are Losing Manufacturing Jobs because of Policy, Not NYT’s Mysterious 'Tectonic Forces'," Dean Baker, In These Times, August 20, 2015.
"Is There Anything Progressive about Hillary's Economic Plan?," Dean Baker, Counter Punch, August 14, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on ObamaCare's effect on jobs by Julie Verhage, "There's a Big Economic Benefit to Obamacare That Isn't Getting Much Attention" Bloomberg, August 7, 2015.
Guest to discuss the effect of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and the job market on Bloomberg: What'd You Miss?, Dean Baker, August 6, 2015.
Guest to discuss ObamaCare’s effect on the job market on Bloomberg: What'd You Miss?, Dean Baker, August 6, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on middle class economics by Michael Hiltzik, "Conservatives are Trying to Prove Income Inequality is a Myth - and Failing" Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the economic rationale for the fast-food-only policy by Josh Barro, "A $15 Minimum Wage. But Why Just for Fast-Food Workers?" New York Times, July 28, 2015.
"Wage Growth Continues to be the Key to Social Security Solvency," Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research, July 22, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the right-wing push to amend the U.S. Constitution by requiring a balanced federal budget by Jonas Persson and and Mary Bottari, "ALEC Wants to Educate High Schoolers on Balanced Budgets and Austerity" San Diego Free Press, July 20, 2015.
"The Minimum Wage and Other Left Ideas Washington Post Might Find 'Lame'," Dean Baker, Global Research, July 17, 2015.
Guest to discuss the Trans Pacific Partnership deal on CC-TV America: The Heat, Dean Baker, July 15, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on full-time versus part-time employment by Josh Barro, "Should Americans Work More? To Hit 4 Percent Growth, We Would Have To" New York Times, July 14, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on reducing inequality by Amy Chozick, "Hillary Clinton Offers Her Vision of a ‘Fairness Economy’ to Close the Income Gap" New York Times, July 13, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on whether Southern cities similar to Louisville could also raise the minimum wage by Ashley Lopez, "Louisville’s Minimum Wage Hike Could be an Example through the South" WFPL NPR News, July 1, 2015.
"The NYT is Wrong: Greece Shouldn’t Accept Endless Depression because Default Might be Painful," Dean Baker, In These Times, June 29, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the Republican push for requiring a balanced federal budget by Jonas Persson and Mary Bottari, "ALEC Wants to Educate High Schoolers on Balanced Budget and Fiscal Austerity " Center for Media and Democracy , May 28, 2015.
"Bernie Sanders Takes It to Wall Street with Financial Transactions Tax," Dean Baker, Huffington Post, May 25, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on "voluntary" workers as a misnomer by Cora Lewis, "Many Women are Hidden from Unemployment Numbers, Study Says" BuzzFeed, May 21, 2015.
"The Strong Dollar is Hurting U.S. Manufacturing. There’s a Lesson in There for the TPP.," Dean Baker, The Washington Post, May 11, 2015.
"Wisconsin One of Many States at Risk in ObamaCare Court Case," Dean Baker, Wisconsin State Journal, May 10, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on foreign direct investment and outsourcing by William Mauldin, "Economists Say White House Argument on Outsourcing Falls Flat" Wall Street Journal, May 1, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on America's rising inequality by John W. Schoen, Amber Payne, and Erin McClam, "Violence Scarred a City Dealing With Decline for Decades" CNBC, April 29, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the lack of economic opportunity in Baltimore by JJ Feinauer, "The Role of Poverty in Baltimore's Unrest" Desert News National, April 29, 2015.
"Obama is Failing Us All by Ignoring the Need for Currency Rules in TPP," Dean Baker, The Guardian, April 22, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on Hillary's campaign strategy by Amy Chozick, "Campaign Casts Hillary Clinton as the Populist It Insists She Has Always Been" New York Times, April 21, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on wage gaps by Gretchen Morgenson, "Despite Federal Regulation, C.E.O. - Worker Pay Gap Data Remains Hidden" New York Times, April 10, 2015.
"A Key to Healing U.S. Economy? Curbing Currency Manipulation," Dean Baker, Los Angeles Times, April 7, 2015.
"Tyler Cowen's Three-Card Monte on Inequality," Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research, April 5, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on forecasting the Fed's action in response to job growth by Don Lee, "U.S. Job Growth Slows Sharply in March to 126,000" Los Angeles Times, April 3, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on what a flat tax rate would mean for the middle class by Tom Bailey, "Flat Taxes: Could They Help the American Economy?" World Finance, April 1, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the impact Obama's trade agreement will have on jobs by Robert W. Patterson, "U.S. Loses Millions of Job through Trade" Providence Journal, March 28, 2015.
"The Economy, Like Arithmetic, is Not Complicated; Even if Robert Samuelson Does Not Understand It," Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research, March 25, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the debate surrounding the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal by Noah Smith, "A Trade Agreement That Even Liberals Can Live With" Chicago Tribune, March 17, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the relationship between unemployment benefits and unemployment by Matthew Jelalian, "Cutting Unemployment Benefits Reduces Unemployment, Study Shows" Deseret News National , March 2, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on income growth in the U.S. by Jim Zarroli, "Study Suggests Recession, Recovery Have Not Left the Rich Richer" National Public Radio, February 17, 2015.
"The Sharing Economy Must Share a Level Playing Field," Dean Baker, Cato Unbound, February 11, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the effectiveness of Croatia's debt forgiveness program by Rick Noack, "Croatia Just Canceled the Debts of Its Poorest Citizens" The Washington Post, January 31, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted by Matt Mercuro, "Uber, Lyft, Head to Court this Week over Driver Benefits" Auto World News, January 29, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on the data used to refute Obama's job growth policies by Danny Vinik, "Obama is Finally Getting Credit for the Recovery" New Republic, January 28, 2015.
"Reducing Disability Rolls: The Rand Paul Way and the Federal Reserve Board Way," Dean Baker, OpEd News, January 27, 2015.
"Did Cutting the Duration of Unemployment Benefits Lead to Faster Job Growth in 2014?," Dean Baker, Center for Economic and Policy Research, January 26, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on ObamaCare's impact on part-time hours by Louis Jacobson, "CEO of Carl's Jr. says 'ObamaCare Has Caused Millions of Full-Time Jobs to Become Part-Time'" Politifact, January 23, 2015.
"Democrats Take on Wall Street with Financial Transactions Tax," Dean Baker, Huffington Post, January 19, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on default rate for mortgages with low down payments by James Surowiecki, "The Mortgage Mistake" The New Yorker, January 6, 2015.
"New Year’s Resolutions: Ten Ways to Combat Upward Redistribution of Income," Dean Baker, Moyers and Company, January 1, 2015.
Dean Baker quoted on strong currency provisions by Mark Landler and Jonathan Weisman, "Obama’s Trade Chief, Undaunted by Odds, Pushes for Trans-Pacific Partnership" New York Times, December 30, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on the implications a trade deal may have on U.S. jobs by Lydia DePillis, "The U.S. Might Sign a Huge Trade Deal This Year. Could It Actually Work for the Middle Class?" The Washington Post, December 30, 2014.
"Fear over Overregulation is Unfounded, Exaggerated," Dean Baker, The Free Lance-Star, December 28, 2014.
Guest to discuss on the Fed raising short-term interest rates on All Things Considered, Dean Baker, December 25, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on trade issues by Vicki Needham , "Labor Warns Obama on Trade Policy" The Hill, December 11, 2014.
"Benefits of ObamaCare: More People are Able to Work Less," Dean Baker, OpEd News, December 9, 2014.
"Good News for the Affordable Care Act in Jobs Reports," Dean Baker, PBS Newshour, December 8, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on shutting down coal plants by Barnini Chakraborty, "'Game We Can’t Win': Coal States Brace for Growing Number of Plant Closures over EPA Rules" Fox News, December 5, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on measuring job growth by Simone Path, "What’s the Most Reliable Indicator of Monthly Job Gains?" PBS Newshour, December 5, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on regulations to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by Cynthia Shahan, "67% of Americans Support Federal CO2 Regulations" Clean Technica, November 24, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on the tech worker shortage by Josh Eidelson, "The Tech Worker Shortage Doesn't Really Exist" Bloomberg Businessweek, November 24, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on the Peterson Foundation by Alex Wayne, "Improving Health Care is Billionaire Peterson’s Next Mission" Bloomberg, November 21, 2014.
Guest to discuss Obama's upcoming executive order on immigration on CNBC News Obama Knows GOP Will React Negatively: Pro, Dean Baker, November 20, 2014.
"Gripes about Excessive Regulations and Taxes Often are Baseless," Dean Baker, The Island Packet, November 20, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on investing in renewable energy by Carrie Scherpelz, "Who Will Win Energy Race - U.S. or China?" The Cap Times, November 18, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on the effects of U.S. oil production by Jordan Weissman, "Liberals Were Wrong: Drilling for Oil Really Did Bring Down Gas Prices" Slate, November 18, 2014.
Dean Baker quoted on refinancing by Ruth Mantell, "Why Cash-Out Refinancing, Which is on the Rise, Has Its Place " Market Watch, November 17, 2014.
"Why ObamaCare is Scary for the Folks Who Want Their Toilets Cleaned on the Cheap," Dean Baker, AlterNet, February 25, 2014.
Dean Baker's research on initiatives that would reduce U.S. income inequality discussed by , "The Government is the Only Reason U.S. Inequality is So High," Washington Post, December 5, 2013.
Guest to discuss the fiscal debate and entitlements on MPR News, Dean Baker (with ), December 3, 2012.
"The Spurious Case against a Financial Transactions Tax," Dean Baker, International Relations and Security Network, November 2, 2011.
Regular contributions by Dean Baker to Huffington Post.
Publications
"Getting Back to Full Employment" (with ) (Center for Economic and Policy Research, 2013).
Explores un- and underemployment in the United States, debunking misleading beliefs about economic growth and making policy recommendations that will aid in achieving full employment.
"Are Protective Labor Market Institutions at the Root of Unemployment? A Critical Review of the Evidence" (with ). Capitalism and Society 2, no. 1 (2007): 1-73.
Examines the evidence that unions and other protections for workers led to higher rates of unemployment. Shows that the evidence for this link is weak or non-existent, depending on the specific protection.
"Asset Returns and Economic Growth," Brooking Papers on Economic Activity, December 31, 2004.
Argues that the long-run rate of return on equities will depend on the current price to earnings ratio in stock markets and the growth path of profits. This means that analysts should have assumed low stock returns when price to earnings ratios were at unusually high level in the 1990s and 2000s.
"Social Security: The Phony Crisis" (with ) (University of Chicago Press, 2000).
Shows that the problems facing Social Security were hugely exaggerated, and that plans to privatize the system would likely make the situation for seniors worse by making their benefits uncertain and increasing administrative costs by an order of magnitude.