Hi there! I’m an economist and writer interested in how policymakers can use markets to make Americans richer, safer, and more financially secure. Here are a few things I’ve done lately.

Donald Trump’s economic agenda is sowing chaos in markets, raising prices, and reducing investment. It is only a question of time until millions of Americans lose their jobs.

In the wake of such foolish destruction, we need to offer a hopeful vision for how government can use the generative power of markets to serve the common good.

Marketcraft describes a practice that dates back to the start of capitalism hundreds of years ago: intentional, state-led efforts to organize and manage markets for social or political ends.

In foreign policy, we use the term “statecraft” to describe how a government pursues power and influence geopolitically.Similarly, marketcrafters employ the tools of the state to pursue economic goals. These can be noble ones — orderly financial markets, domestic semiconductor manufacturing, countering climate change, stable gas prices — or sillier ones, like supporting the growth of cryptocurrency markets.

Marketcraft is not a values-laden agenda, but a practice, an approach that policymakers use to make markets work in line with political goals. We have to understand how to do it well if we want to deliver on the promise of prosperity and stability for all Americans.

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Author, Marketcrafters: The 100-Year Struggle to Shape the American Economy and Chair, Economic Security Project.