What will be President Obama's economic legacy?

Farewell speech today

clock • 2 min read

As outgoing President Barack Obama gives his farewell speech in Chicago later today, Aberdeen Asset Management's chief economist Lucy O'Carroll reflects on the US economy's progress throughout his tenure.

Barack Obama will enter the pantheon of great orators when he leaves office this month. It is easy to forget how much optimism and genuine hope he inspired on the campaign trail.  Even now, after a rancorous eight years in office, he has a profound skill to inspire with his words. What is less well remembered is was just how much of a rotten state the economy was in when he inherited the Presidency. In many ways, the financial crisis and its aftermath have been the spectre haunting his Presidency. The financial crisis was not one of Obama's making, but he had to deal with much of the ...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on US

Defence stocks win big as US Senate passes Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'
US

Defence stocks win big as US Senate passes Trump's 'big, beautiful bill'

Uncertain impact on EV and batteries

Sorin Dojan
clock 02 July 2025 • 2 min read
'Trade risks remain' after Canada scraps digital services tax on US companies
US

'Trade risks remain' after Canada scraps digital services tax on US companies

Tariff talks likely to be extended

Sorin Dojan
clock 30 June 2025 • 4 min read
Trump says US and China sign trade deal in potential tension cooldown
US

Trump says US and China sign trade deal in potential tension cooldown

'Everybody wants to make a deal'

Sorin Dojan
clock 27 June 2025 • 1 min read
Trustpilot