United States | Election briefs

The Economist’s guide to the 2016 presidential election

Policy has not been much discussed in this election. Here are our attempts to fill the vacuum

WHEN Americans cast their votes for the next president, the policy platforms of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will probably not be right at the front of their minds. That is true even in a more normal cycle than this one has been.

In this series of policy briefs, we look at what the two candidates propose on seven key issues: the Supreme Court, fiscal policy, the environment, student loans, infrastructure, education and foreign policy. There are other areas to consider, but we decided to look at policy areas where the federal government has real clout, or where the candidates’ positions seemed farthest apart and most consequential.

Download the free 10-page pdf here

Table of contents

1. The Supreme Court
This election could determine the shape of the court for a generation

2. Fiscal policy
Hillary Clinton’s fiscal plan is fiddly. Donald Trump’s is absurd

3. Climate change
Hillary Clinton’s environmental plans are pragmatic. Donald Trump’s are non-existent

4. Student loans
Hillary Clinton’s college-funding plan is better politics than policy

5. Infrastructure
It will take more than just money to get America moving

6. Education
George W. Bush and Barack Obama made school reform a priority. The next president will look elsewhere

7. Foreign policy
Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy would be similar to Barack Obama’s. Donald Trump’s would be like nothing America has seen before

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