Despite efforts by the Bush Administration to portray the economy as doing well, Americans remain skeptical. One reason why the President is having such a tough time selling his message is that the economy has done so much worse on his watch than it did under President Clinton by a variety of indicators.
Economists properly caution that many forces beyond presidential leadership affect the performance of the economy. But in one area where the president does matter—fiscal responsibility—President Clinton’s record stands in marked contrast to President Bush’s. The strong policy environment under President Clinton created conditions in which the economy could flourish.
The following indicators illustrate key differences in economic policy and economic performance under President Clinton and President Bush:
· Job Creation
· Unemployment
· Wages and Income
· Other Measures of Economic Well-being
· Fiscal Responsibility
For the full text of this report, please click on the file listed under "Related Resources."
