Austerity Watch

As governments in Europe and elsewhere adopt conservative austerity economic policies, we are assembling the best information and analysis of the effects from our own writers and from other progressive sources.


Terrance Heath's picture

Austerity Doesn't Reduce Deficits

By Terrance Heath
November 1, 2012

Austerity is back in the news, and the news about austerity is never good. We've only had de facto austerity on this side of the pond. So as usual, the news is from Europe, where the austerians are going full-tilt boogie. more »

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Robert Borosage's picture

IMF Agrees: Austerity Bites

By Robert Borosage
October 11, 2012

Sen. Todd Akin calls for abortion on demand and free distribution of condoms. The CEO of Exxon decries global warming and demands an end to oil company subsidies along with new public investment in renewable energy. Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio calls for amnesty for undocumented workers.

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Digby's picture

Punitive Austerity

By Digby
September 28, 2012

Paul Krugman today: more »

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Terrance Heath's picture

Austerity Is The New Greek Tragedy

By Terrance Heath
September 25, 2012

In my previous post this morning, I noted that the U.S. is starting to look a lot like Greece, at least in terms of austerity-driven suicides. more »

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Terrance Heath's picture

Death By Austerity

By Terrance Heath
September 25, 2012

Americans now stand a greater chance of dying from the effects of austerity than being killed in a car crash. At least that's what a new report suggests, if you read between the lines. more »

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Digby's picture

The New Austerity Campaign

By Digby
August 13, 2012

I see that the New York Times is helpfully reframing the election away from jobs and the economy. Here's the headline on the dead tree version:

"Romney chooses Ryan, pushing fiscal issues to the forefront"

Huzzah. As Tristero points out below, this would be a lot less scary if the debate wasn't going to be between the moderate centrist plan for a "balanced approach" that slashes vital government programs in exchange for some ephemeral tip money from millionaires in the middle of an historic slump and a radical right wing plan that simply slashes vital government programs in the middle of an historic slump. In my view, that's a losing debate no matter who wins. more »

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Terrance Heath's picture

Fear, Loathing & Austerity In Ireland

By Terrance Heath
May 31, 2012

Before Greece, before Spain, before Germany, France, or even Britain there was Ireland. Just two years ago, the Heritage Foundation placed Ireland in the top ten of its "Index of Economic Freedom." That was two years after the "Celtic Tiger" that was the Irish economy had been effectively neutered. more »

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Robert Borosage's picture

The Austerity Trap and the Jobs Deficit

By Robert Borosage
May 17, 2012

The dire threat facing America, according to Mitt Romney and Republicans this week, is debt, not mass unemployment. more »

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Dave Johnson's picture

Why We Have A Deficit

By Dave Johnson
May 14, 2012

Deficit theater is coming to DC tomorrow, with a well-funded "fiscal summit." The plot summary is that we have Deficit Trouble - Right Here In River City! so to fix it we need to cut Social Security and Medica more »

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Roger Hickey's picture

Show Peter Peterson We Reject His Elite Austerity Consensus

By Roger Hickey
May 13, 2012

On Tuesday, May 15, one of America's wealthiest men, Peter G. Peterson, will use his foundation's money to lecture the rest of us about why the federal deficit is the most serious problem facing our country. more »

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