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Mark Thoma

Affiliation: University of Oregon

Mark Thoma is a member of the Economics Department at the University of Oregon. He joined the UO faculty in 1987 and served as head of the Economics Department for five years. His research examines the effects that changes in monetary policy have on inflation, output, unemployment, interest rates and other macroeconomic variables with a focus on asymmetries in the response of these variables to policy changes, and on changes in the relationship between policy and the economy over time. He has also conducted research in other areas such as the relationship between the political party in power, and macroeconomic outcomes and using macroeconomic tools to predict transportation flows. He received his doctorate from Washington State University.

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Mark Thoma's Latest Articles | 244

Empirical Methods and Progress in Macroeconomics

Apr 17, 2013| 

The blow-up over the Reinhart-Rogoff results reminds me of a point I’ve been meaning to make about our ability to use empirical methods to make progress in macroeconomics.... Read »

The Sequester Game

Mar 23, 2013| 

First, recall how it came about. When Democrats and Republicans in Congress couldn’t agree on how to cut the budget deficit — budget cuts or tax increases,... Read »

Why Does Anyone Listen to Paul Ryan?

Mar 14, 2013| 

Paul Krugman has questions for the fans of austerity in recessions: Night of the Living Alesina, Continued: So, while I was dealing with real life yesterday … Paul... Read »

Good News on Health Care Costs and the Budget

Feb 20, 2013| 

The biggest driver of the “we must cut the national debt now, now, now” is the expectation that the cost of medical services (and hence the cost of Medicare)... Read »

The NRO is Against a Balance Budget Agreement. Can You Guess Why?

Feb 14, 2013| 

At first I thought wow, even the NRO has a sensible position on the balanced budget amendment — it is opposed. But in the end it’s mostly the same old... Read »

The Blame Someone Else Crowd

Feb 13, 2013| 

Paul Krugman explains why the false charge that government housing policy caused the financial crisis and recession is harmful: …No, the CRA wasn’t responsible... Read »

What’s the Cost and Financial Value of College?

Feb 9, 2013| 

Without college, I’d probably be doing what my dad, brother, and grandfather did, work in a tractor store selling parts, and if I was lucky, some day get promoted... Read »

Kudlow Celebrates Negative Growth

Jan 31, 2013| 

Larry Kudlow tries to use the fact that the fall government spending in the fourth quarter of last year was associated with a big drop in GDP growth to argue that... Read »

Mint the Platinum Coin?

Jan 8, 2013| 

I haven’t said anything about the platinum coin option, until now, because I am of two minds about it. One part of me says this is a very bad idea. We all... Read »

Should We Extend the Payroll Tax Cut?

Dec 2, 2012| 

Jared Bernstein says we should renew the payroll tax cut: When You’re Trying to Decide if We Need to Renew the Payroll Tax Break, Picture This. by Jared Bernstein:... Read »

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