An Economist’s Take on 1st Trump–Biden Debate: Heavy on Health Care, Light on Trade

President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden debate at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, on Sept. 29, 2020. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

From the perspective of an economist looking for clues from the first Trump–Biden debate, there were some important insights regarding the health care sector, energy policy, and the auto industry—but, surprisingly, we didn’t learn much about the candidates’ prospective trade policies.