Matt Yglesias

Gene Sperling Returns

Gene Sperling, who headed up the National Economic Council in the Clinton administration after Robert Rubin left the job, willl be joining Timothy Geithner at the Treasury Department where he will “will advise on fiscal policy, including issues related to the annual budget, taxes and the domestic entitlement programs – Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security – whose growth is driving projections of long-term deficits.” It seems like an excellent choice to me. Geithner’s area of expertise is specifically in finance, but obviously these swathes of economic policy are hugely important and recruiting Sperling means there’ll be a real heavy-hitter on the treasury team. Among other things, Sperling’s been a CAP guy ‘lo these past several years so here’s a taste of his writing:

• A Powell Doctrine for the Economy and a Grand Bargain, November 20, 2008
• Address Health Care in a Second Stimulus, November 13, 2008

• Stagflation, Not Strong Growth, Justifies Pause, July 3, 2008

• Double-Bubble Trouble in Commercial Real Estate, May 9, 2008
• Soaring Food Prices Mean Less Education for Poor, May 1, 2008
• `The Wire’ Showed No Options for Men , April 22, 2008
• Subprime Mortgage Meltdown Renews Urban Blight, March 19, 2008
• How Bob Ball Dominated Social Security Debate, February 27, 2008
• U.S. Moves Closer Toward Economic Stimulus Plan, January 24, 2008
• Global Warming Insurance Policy Is Worth Premium:, January 2, 2008

He also wrote a book, The Pro-Growth Progressive, which has a slightly annoying title and lots of great policy ideas.