Meghan Ostertag
Research Assistant
Meghan Ostertag is a research assistant for economic policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from American University.
Recent Publications
Fact of the Week: World Merchandise Trade Is Projected To Fall by 0.2 Percent in 2025
In the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) “Global Trade Outlook and Statistics Report for 2025,” the WTO predicts that global merchandise trade will decline by 0.2 percentage points.
Fact of the Week: Americans Continue To Earn Higher Household Incomes Than Previous Generations
A study by the Federal Reserve Board shows that despite significantly increased costs for higher education and housing, average household income for Millennials grew 18 percent compared to Generation X.
AI Can Improve US Small Business Productivity
If the U.S. wants to unlock the full potential of its small business sector, widespread AI adoption must become a policy priority. With targeted support, AI can become a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and strengthening U.S. competitiveness on the global stage.
Fact of the Week: A 10 Percent Increase in the Effective U.S. Tariff Rate Could Lead to an Inflation Increase of up to 1.2 Percent
Experts suggest that increasing the U.S. effective tariff rate by 10 percentage points will increase inflation by up to 1.2 percent.
Fact of the Week: High Government Debt Leads to Significant Declines in Economic Growth for R&D Intensive Industries
A report by the IMF indicates that rising government debt in advanced economies results in a decline in economic growth, particularly affecting industries that depend heavily on research and development (R&D), such as high-tech industries.
Fact of the Week: Analysts Have Downgraded Global GDP Growth Projections for 2025 to 3.1 Percent
The OECD now expects global GDP to grow by 3.1 percent this year, reduced from the previous projection of 3.3 percent in light of heightened trade barriers and political uncertainty.
Advanced Technology Products Rely on Strong Trade Partnerships
America’s innovation economy depends on strong trade alliances—not trade wars—to sustain growth and secure leadership in advanced technology exports.
Fact of the Week: The Expansion of Submarine Cables Results in a 14 to 21 Percent Drop in Internet Prices
A recent report found that doubling the international Internet bandwidth for a country by installing submarine cables will decrease the cost of fixed and mobile broadband by as much as 14 and 21 percent, respectively.
Fact of the Week: Stricter Land Use Regulations Led to a 40 Percent Decline in Construction Productivity
Construction labor productivity has significantly declined, falling 40 percent from 1970 to 2000, even as productivity in other industries, such as manufacturing, has grown.
Fact of the Week: A 10 Percent Increase in Robot Density in Manufacturing Sectors Results in a 2 Percent Decrease in Injuries
A study of 15 manufacturing industries across 18 European nations from 2011 to 2019 found that a 10 percent increase in robot density resulted in a 0.07 percent reduction in fatalities and a 1.96 percent decrease in injuries.
Intermediate Goods: The Hidden Cost of Blanket Tariffs
Imposing blanket tariffs on our allies will only weaken American industries. If Trump wants to bring back U.S. manufacturing, placing targeted tariffs on specific Chinese goods is the way to do it.
Fact of the Week: Europe Trails the United States by Over 26 Percent in Share of Global Biopharma R&D
European firms are now responsible for just 29 percent of global biopharma research and development; U.S. firms lead at 55 percent.
