7 Ways to Fix the Economy

Ask seven economists how to fix the ailing U.S.

(Image credit: (C) 2006 Trevor Lush)

Ask seven economists how to fix the ailing U.S. economy and you’ll get seven different answers. (Ask one congressional "supercommittee" and you’ll get no answers, but that’s another story.) After posing the daunting question to leading economists, we did indeed get differing plans, which run the gamut from increasing stimulus spending to extending the payroll tax holiday.

While the economists’ proposals vary, there’s general consensus that the biggest problem facing the U.S. today is unemployment. Even at the current rate of 8.6%, the lowest level since March 2009, the pace of job creation is too sluggish to have a meaningful impact on hiring. Among the ideas for aiding unemployed Americans are work-sharing, government funding of infrastructure projects and the extension of unemployment insurance benefits.

Click through to read each economist’s plan in his or her own words.

Online Associate Editor, Kiplinger.com