William (Bill) Dickens Distinguished Professor of Economics and Social Policy w.dickens@northeastern.edu Expertise COVID-19, Election 2020, inflation, intelligence testing, labor markets, psychology and economics, Unemployment, wage determination William Dickens in the Press Article American Banker Will pandemic compel Congress to ease bank capital requirements? “Somebody’s got to … reemploy people once this thing is over, and they’re going to need capital, and the banking system is the major source of that,” said William Dickens, a professor and chair of the … economics department at Northeastern University. Article WMAR2 Surprising shortages pop up amid the coronavirus pandemic “Coke is facing is a different sort of thing right now; it’s something that’s a shift in demand, which is temporary, and they’re not in position to respond to it other than to…put all of their eggs into the baskets that are going out the door fastest,” said William Dickens, University Distinguished Professor and chair […] Article Federal Reserve opts to wait on the American consumer with rate cut pause William Dickens, a professor at Northeastern University and a visiting scholar at the Boston Fed, suggested that the Fed is waiting for the lag. “With three cuts on the record now they want to see what effect those cuts have before they push further,” he said. Article 2018 global growth to roll to highs not seen in eight years A majority of economists in a separate Reuters poll last week said NAFTA will probably be renegotiated successfully with no significant changes, despite the Trump administration’s saber-rattling. “I still suspect that adults will prevail and NAFTA will not be allowed to collapse,” said William Dickens, head of the economics department at Northeastern University in Boston. Article CFO Magazine Team Trump’s tug-of-war Other economists express similar concerns about Navarro. “He makes crazy comments that are disturbing, illogical, and inane,” says Fratrik of BIA/Kelsey. “If the president followed what Navarro wanted, it would devalue what the [country’s] founders did and wanted. Fortunately, I have enough faith in the ways of American government that I believe the dastardly things […] Article A cautious Fed holds key interest rate steady William Dickens, chairman of the economics department at Northeastern University, said he remains concerned about the millions of Americans who dropped out of the workforce during the recession who have not returned to jobs. These workers — and those taking part-time jobs because they can’t get full-time work — are not included in the official […] Article Fed weighs more ambitious goal for sweet spot on full employment William Dickens, a visiting scholar at the Boston Fed, isn’t so sure, saying “there are mixed signals as to whether we are at full employment.” While his research indicates “we are at the natural rate now,” the lack of certainty suggests holding off on rate increases, said Dickens, a Northeastern University professor and Brookings Institution […] Article The Daily Signal 2% of American workers have been unemployed for at least six months The Beveridge Curve is a visual relationship between unemployment and job vacancies. As Northeastern University’s Rand Ghayad and Bill Dickens first showed, the Beveridge Curve for the long-term unemployed has shifted sharply since the beginning of the recession. The shift shows that the job market for the long-term unemployed is uniquely bad–despite research finding less […] Article Bloomberg Businessweek Cutting wages is hard to do: Why that’s bad for unemployment In Jackson Hole, Wyo., this August, Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, gave a speech explaining just how hard it is to understand unemployment. She made passing mention of an idea only an economist could love: “downward nominal wage rigidity.” In plain English, that means it’s hard for any company to cut pay, even […] Article Philly.com For some, the recession never ended William Dickens, chairman of the economics department at Boston’s Northeastern University and a leading expert on joblessness, said the persistence of the long-term unemployment problem six years after the financial crisis points to one thing: that policy makers should take the problem more seriously. “It may take a very aggressive policy, including accepting some inflation, […] William Dickens for Northeastern Global News Have a problem with Trump’s low income tax? Blame the tax code. Have a problem with Trump’s low income tax? Blame the tax code. An unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic? A national coin shortage. An unexpected consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic? A national coin shortage. US jobless claims have soared. Is a recession necessary to fight COVID-19? US jobless claims have soared. Is a recession necessary to fight COVID-19? What’s really at stake in the trade war between the US and China? What’s really at stake in the trade war between the US and China? Economist: Consumers wouldn’t feel impact of tariffs in short term Economist: Consumers wouldn’t feel impact of tariffs in short term What the Fed rate hikes mean for the economy—and for your wallet What the Fed rate hikes mean for the economy—and for your wallet Experts: Record-setting Dow is good news, but more for peace of mind Experts: Record-setting Dow is good news, but more for peace of mind 3Qs: Why the Fed maintained interest rates, and what it means 3Qs: Why the Fed maintained interest rates, and what it means Economics research promotes malaria testing Economics research promotes malaria testing A new theory on long-term unemployment A new theory on long-term unemployment
Article American Banker Will pandemic compel Congress to ease bank capital requirements? “Somebody’s got to … reemploy people once this thing is over, and they’re going to need capital, and the banking system is the major source of that,” said William Dickens, a professor and chair of the … economics department at Northeastern University.
Article WMAR2 Surprising shortages pop up amid the coronavirus pandemic “Coke is facing is a different sort of thing right now; it’s something that’s a shift in demand, which is temporary, and they’re not in position to respond to it other than to…put all of their eggs into the baskets that are going out the door fastest,” said William Dickens, University Distinguished Professor and chair […]
Article Federal Reserve opts to wait on the American consumer with rate cut pause William Dickens, a professor at Northeastern University and a visiting scholar at the Boston Fed, suggested that the Fed is waiting for the lag. “With three cuts on the record now they want to see what effect those cuts have before they push further,” he said.
Article 2018 global growth to roll to highs not seen in eight years A majority of economists in a separate Reuters poll last week said NAFTA will probably be renegotiated successfully with no significant changes, despite the Trump administration’s saber-rattling. “I still suspect that adults will prevail and NAFTA will not be allowed to collapse,” said William Dickens, head of the economics department at Northeastern University in Boston.
Article CFO Magazine Team Trump’s tug-of-war Other economists express similar concerns about Navarro. “He makes crazy comments that are disturbing, illogical, and inane,” says Fratrik of BIA/Kelsey. “If the president followed what Navarro wanted, it would devalue what the [country’s] founders did and wanted. Fortunately, I have enough faith in the ways of American government that I believe the dastardly things […]
Article A cautious Fed holds key interest rate steady William Dickens, chairman of the economics department at Northeastern University, said he remains concerned about the millions of Americans who dropped out of the workforce during the recession who have not returned to jobs. These workers — and those taking part-time jobs because they can’t get full-time work — are not included in the official […]
Article Fed weighs more ambitious goal for sweet spot on full employment William Dickens, a visiting scholar at the Boston Fed, isn’t so sure, saying “there are mixed signals as to whether we are at full employment.” While his research indicates “we are at the natural rate now,” the lack of certainty suggests holding off on rate increases, said Dickens, a Northeastern University professor and Brookings Institution […]
Article The Daily Signal 2% of American workers have been unemployed for at least six months The Beveridge Curve is a visual relationship between unemployment and job vacancies. As Northeastern University’s Rand Ghayad and Bill Dickens first showed, the Beveridge Curve for the long-term unemployed has shifted sharply since the beginning of the recession. The shift shows that the job market for the long-term unemployed is uniquely bad–despite research finding less […]
Article Bloomberg Businessweek Cutting wages is hard to do: Why that’s bad for unemployment In Jackson Hole, Wyo., this August, Janet Yellen, chair of the Federal Reserve, gave a speech explaining just how hard it is to understand unemployment. She made passing mention of an idea only an economist could love: “downward nominal wage rigidity.” In plain English, that means it’s hard for any company to cut pay, even […]
Article Philly.com For some, the recession never ended William Dickens, chairman of the economics department at Boston’s Northeastern University and a leading expert on joblessness, said the persistence of the long-term unemployment problem six years after the financial crisis points to one thing: that policy makers should take the problem more seriously. “It may take a very aggressive policy, including accepting some inflation, […]