RAPT Institute
@raptinstitute.bsky.social
RAPT: Restoring American Prosperity and Trust
Searching for new economic/political ideas to support American Innovation and Prosperity by empowering the American People.
Searching for new economic/political ideas to support American Innovation and Prosperity by empowering the American People.
But let’s not pretend the BRICS in the early 2000’s or Vietnam today had the internally generated capital to fund the OPEX and CAPEX needed for labor arbitrage. So businesses exported a net $1-2T in foreign direct investment a year across Rep and Dem admins.
September 1, 2025 at 7:03 PM
But let’s not pretend the BRICS in the early 2000’s or Vietnam today had the internally generated capital to fund the OPEX and CAPEX needed for labor arbitrage. So businesses exported a net $1-2T in foreign direct investment a year across Rep and Dem admins.
It peaked under Obama when you were on the Obama Economic Advisory board. So in a very real sense you are directly responsible for the problem you rightly complain about.
September 1, 2025 at 5:57 PM
It peaked under Obama when you were on the Obama Economic Advisory board. So in a very real sense you are directly responsible for the problem you rightly complain about.
Stocks and dividend rose substantially from 2004 - 2021 while jobs fell and incomes failed to keep up with asset prices
September 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Stocks and dividend rose substantially from 2004 - 2021 while jobs fell and incomes failed to keep up with asset prices
No that is wrong. Correlation does not equal causation. The wealthy increased the percentage by off/shoring US jobs to low cost geos and plowing the cash into stock buy-backs
September 1, 2025 at 5:43 PM
No that is wrong. Correlation does not equal causation. The wealthy increased the percentage by off/shoring US jobs to low cost geos and plowing the cash into stock buy-backs
While income as grown at a rate of 2.79%, some of those exported dollars came back to the US in the form of asset purchases which further juiced the stock market and made housing unaffordable for young people. Not a surprise many opt for authoritarian options.
August 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
While income as grown at a rate of 2.79%, some of those exported dollars came back to the US in the form of asset purchases which further juiced the stock market and made housing unaffordable for young people. Not a surprise many opt for authoritarian options.
This has resulted in dollars going to equity and not to wages. Great for Boomer exisating stocks portfolio, not so great for young kids trying to acquire wealth. When jobs are declining and wages are stagnant it is hard to accomulate wealth.
August 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This has resulted in dollars going to equity and not to wages. Great for Boomer exisating stocks portfolio, not so great for young kids trying to acquire wealth. When jobs are declining and wages are stagnant it is hard to accomulate wealth.
Companies invested in the US and wages grew faster than the price of assets for their parents coming of age in the 60's - 90's, Today's young adults have had decades of companies off-shoring jobs and America's wealth, at a rate of 1-2T a year, stagnenting wages and killing job growth.
August 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Companies invested in the US and wages grew faster than the price of assets for their parents coming of age in the 60's - 90's, Today's young adults have had decades of companies off-shoring jobs and America's wealth, at a rate of 1-2T a year, stagnenting wages and killing job growth.
But you may smartly ask how do they pay those engineers in Singapore, India, Vietnam and Poland. These countries don't buy enough to fund those jobs so CEO's send 1-2T a year in the dollars you spend overseas to fund operational and capital expenses. These funds far outstrip the trade deficit.
August 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
But you may smartly ask how do they pay those engineers in Singapore, India, Vietnam and Poland. These countries don't buy enough to fund those jobs so CEO's send 1-2T a year in the dollars you spend overseas to fund operational and capital expenses. These funds far outstrip the trade deficit.
So if the 1% are paid mostly on stock how do they grow the value of their companies shares? Some of them innovate but innovation isn't really reliable and consistent. Instead they off-shore jobs to low-cost geographies and buy back stock.
August 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
So if the 1% are paid mostly on stock how do they grow the value of their companies shares? Some of them innovate but innovation isn't really reliable and consistent. Instead they off-shore jobs to low-cost geographies and buy back stock.
