KNOXVILLE—As lawmakers in Washington, D.C., continue debate over the nation's debt ceiling issues, the implications for the economy, health care, businesses and consumers remain to be seen.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has several experts who can address various aspects of the debt ceiling issue:
Don Bruce, economist and research professor at the UT Center for Business and Economic Research, can speak about the uncertainty that the debt ceiling communicates to the economy and the impact as the federal government continues to avoid establishing a plan to put the country on a more sustainable debt path. He can address how the uncertainty interferes with business and consumer decisions and the impact on longer-range planning. He also can address how the government's borrowing situation can affect interest rates on consumer borrowing and returns to certain types of assets.
Bill Fox, director of the UT Center for Business and Economic Research, can speak about the macroeconomics of the debt ceiling, including how it can affect employment, economic growth, inflation and deflation. He also can address the impact on state and local governments.
Don Lighter, a pediatrician and professor in UT’s Physician Executive MBA program, can address health care reforms and the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the average person, as well as the effect of the act on policy, health care costs and quality.
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