Economists Scoff at Obama, Romney Job-Creation Myths: Ezra Klein
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Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Mitt Romney’s campaign would haveyou believe that every job lost over the past three years isPresident Barack Obama’s fault. That includes the 820,000 jobslost in January 2009, even though Obama didn’t become presidentuntil the 20th of the month.
It includes the 726,000 jobs lost in February 2009, beforeany of Obama’s policies had gone into effect. This suggests thatRomney holds a deeply ambitious view of a president’s power toinfluence the labor market -- a view, as we’ll see, that’s notshared by economists who were responsible for White Houseeconomic policies in recent administrations.