President's Message: Communities Light the Way

Tom Barkin

Econ Focus, 2026, vol. 26, issue Q1/Q2, 1-2

Abstract: For much of 2025, businesses faced extraordinary uncertainty. Major policy changes — from tariffs to immigration to federal spending cuts — arrived alongside geopolitical shifts and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). I likened running a business in such conditions to "driving through fog." With uncertainty high, business leaders didn't feel comfortable putting their foot on the gas nor slamming on the brakes. They didn't lean into investment, but they didn't necessarily cut back. They didn't hire, but they didn't fire either. They simply pulled over, turned on their hazards, and waited for clarity.

Keywords: Business; Surveys (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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