American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits
An enormous rise in disability payments may complicate debt-reduction efforts
Donald Trump delights in projecting strength, meaning he loves America’s armed forces. During his first term, the president-elect signed legislation to spend more on defence, before proclaiming that he had “accomplished the military”. On the campaign trail, he doubled down, vowing further increases in defence spending and promising to tackle a recruitment shortfall. Yet he also wants to cut government waste, and has hired Elon Musk to lead a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “The price of patriotism”
Finance & economics November 30th 2024
- Trump wastes no time in reigniting trade wars
- American veterans now receive absurdly generous benefits
- Why everyone wants to lend to weak companies
- How Trump, Starmer and Macron can avoid a debt crunch
- Hong Kong’s property slump may be terminal
- The great-man theory of Wall Street
- Why Black Friday sales grow more annoying every year
From the November 30th 2024 edition
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The great-man theory of Wall Street
Why finance is still dominated by bold individuals
Hong Kong’s property slump may be terminal
Demographics and geopolitics will make a recovery harder
Why everyone wants to lend to weak companies
An unanticipated side-effect of Donald Trump’s election victory
Why Black Friday sales grow more annoying every year
Nobody is to blame. Everyone suffers
Trump wastes no time in reigniting trade wars
Canada and Mexico look likely to suffer
How Trump, Starmer and Macron can avoid a debt crunch
With deficits soaring, their finance ministers will have to be smart