| Description |
This thesis will focus primarily on tax and trade policy. The history of tariffs, individual taxation, supply-side economics, and trickle-down economics will be discussed at length to determine the potential impacts of the first and second Trump administration's economic policies. Compared to Trump's first term as President, his second term has shifted towards a significantly more aggressive approach to protectionist policy. Therefore, this thesis will also analyze the differences between his first term and his second term as of late April 2025, how these modern policies relate to those from the past, and the potential impacts these policies will have in the future. The outcomes found in this thesis are consistent. Despite claims that the approaches analyzed would stimulate broad-based growth and improve conditions for workers, they have often failed to reduce inequality or deliver meaningful economic benefits outside of narrow elite groups. In addition, the research draws on empirical data, including the Gini coefficient and wealth distribution statistics, to evaluate the long-term effects of these policies. |
