An Empire on the Edge
Economist Mona Ali on how the United States wields the world’s most powerful currency to shore up empire and its own ruling class — and how Trump’s careless moves might blow it all up.
5 Article(s) by: Mona Ali
Mona Ali is an associate professor of economics at the State University of New York–New Paltz. She is writing a book on the weaponization of global finance.
The Case Against Money
Economists often take money for granted, ignoring the role it plays in constraining the distribution of resources. A new book by economists J. W. Mason and Arjun Jayadev sets out to overturn the dogmatic assumptions of their profession.
Behind Trump vs. Powell Is a Battle Over US Empire’s Future
After the 2008 crisis, the US set up a vast financial network offering liquidity to its allies. The ongoing clash between Jerome Powell and Donald Trump is partly about the future of this system and which vision of American empire it will promote.
Donald Trump Wants to Remake the Global Financial System
Donald Trump’s attack on the Fed is part of his authoritarian attempt to capture the administrative state. Economist Mona Ali spoke to Jacobin about the stakes of the current clash between Trump and Lisa Cook and what a democratized Fed could look like.
Who Benefits From the Dollar’s Dominance?
The US dollar is used by governments and investors around the world for trade and as a safe asset. Jacobin asked economist Mona Ali if Donald Trump’s tariffs are destroying trust in the currency and what effect this instability will have on ordinary people.
