30 Issues | Clinton vs. Trump on the National Debt

The Brian Lehrer Show | Aug 3, 2016

Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, discusses the effects that Hillary Clinton's and Donald Trump's proposed policies are likely to have on the national debt – in the short and long term.

Moody's analysis of Hillary Clinton's proposals evaluated three key economic policies: tax and spending policy, immigration policy and proposals on minimum wage. Since Clinton intends to pay for her spending proposal by raising taxes on high income households, Zandi said it’s not a big plus or negative for the economy.

Comparatively, Trump’s tax-spending policy proposal will run a very large deficit.

"Over 10 year period it adds 9.5 trillion dollars to national debt," said Zandi, attributing it to a lack of comparable spending cuts to tax cuts.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

History of the War on Terror

CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen reflects on the history of the War on Terror as we approach the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The Brian Lehrer Show |

US appeals court deals blow to natural gas pipeline running through NJ, NY

The court negated a key New Jersey regulator's approval of the massive project.
Gothamist |

The Pentagon is Waging War on Its Own Paper

Plus, the woman shaping Trump’s media diet.
On the Media |

60 Words

It’s been 25 years since 9/11. Today we talk about the 60 words that ushered in everything that came after.
Radiolab |
YOU ARE ONLINE