• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Spain lifted the World Cup, but the IRS still gets a cut of its $50 million pay day as players, coaches and refs all face complex U.S. “jock taxes”

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Spain lifted the World Cup, but the IRS still gets a cut of its $50 million pay day as players, coaches and refs all face complex U.S. “jock taxes”

3

The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Finance

Clinton-Trump Debate: Where the Candidates Stand on 3 Key Economic Topics

By
Stephen Gandel
Stephen Gandel
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Stephen Gandel
Stephen Gandel
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 26, 2016, 9:48 PM ET
Campaign 2016 Debate
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during the presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)Julio Cortez — AP
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have said this election is about getting the economy working for average Americans again.

Nonetheless, jobs and economic issues have rarely taken center stage at any of the presidential debates so far. Monday night’s debate, though, could be an inflection point. Both Clinton and Trump have made dedicated economic policy speeches in the past month. One of the big issues that Trump hit Clinton on during the primaries was free trade agreements, particularly the North American Free Trade Agreement. He’s also tried to outflank Clinton by announcing a plan to spend $500 billion on infrastructure, which is one of the few areas where Republicans have advocated for government expenditures in the past. And the first segment in the debate was about achieving prosperity (you can follow the debate in real time here).

Here are some other economic topics Clinton and Trump are likely to spar over during and after the debate.

Free Trade

Trade has been one of the central issues of Trump’s campaign. Trump repeatedly has claimed that trade deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement, which was signed by Hillary’s husband Bill Clinton when he was president, have taken jobs from American citizens. The studies on the direct effects of NAFTA are not conclusive. But it’s right to say that other countries have done more than the U.S. to protect their manufacturing jobs. Those jobs are near an all-time low in the U.S. despite the revived economy. At the same time, our trade deficit is at an all-time high. Trump had called for rolling back NAFTA and imposing a 45% tariff on imports from China and Mexico. Some economists have said those tariffs would drive up prices.

Clinton has been generally pro-trade throughout her career. As secretary of state she pushed through a free trade deal with South Korea, and backed the now controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership. She has since backed away from trade deals, saying she won’t support any deals that cost American jobs.

Minimum Wage

Clinton has made a call for an increase in the minimum wage part of her campaign to make the economy do more to support working Americans. She has called for an increase of the national wage to $12 an hour. Nonetheless, Clinton took heat in the primary for not backing a $15-an-hour minimum wage, which Bernie Sanders and labor leaders have advocated (and which is now mandated in some parts of the country). Trump generally has said he’s aiming to boost the entire economy rather than individual wages. He has said he prefers states to have the flexibility to set their own minimum wage. He also argues that since his economic policies would boost employment, we would not need an increase in the minimum wage.

Taxes and Deficits

Clinton has said she wants to raise the taxes on the wealthiest Americans, mainly by imposing the so-called Buffett Rule, which would impose a minimum tax of 30% on top earners. Trump is generally in favor of cutting taxes, and has said that many American will not pay taxes on his plan. But Trump’s biggest changes will come for companies. Trump plans to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 15%. The conservative-leaning Tax Foundation has said that Trump’s plan would increase the deficit by $5.9 trillion over 10 years. Moody’s has estimated that Clinton’s tax plan would bring in nearly $1.5 trillion in additional revenue over 10 years.

About the Author
By Stephen Gandel
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Finance

Hopes for key crypto bill fade amid delays, Trump ethics controversy
CryptoCryptocurrency
Hopes for key crypto bill fade amid delays, Trump ethics controversy
By Jeff John RobertsJuly 24, 2026
52 minutes ago
Alphabet Inc. and Google CEO Sundar Pichai speaks during the inauguration of a Google Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub in Paris on February 15, 2024. (
Big TechWall Street
AI is forcing Big Tech to do something it’s never done: Spend more than it earns, and Wall Street hates it
By Eva RoytburgJuly 23, 2026
8 hours ago
Saudi Arabia takes center stage as oil hits $100 and the Iran war escalates amid Houthi attacks and nuclear expansion
EnergyDonald Trump
Saudi Arabia takes center stage as oil hits $100 and the Iran war escalates amid Houthi attacks and nuclear expansion
By Jordan BlumJuly 23, 2026
10 hours ago
California Republican’s awkward pitch: vote for me even if you hate Trump
BankingElections
California Republican’s awkward pitch: vote for me even if you hate Trump
By MIchael R. Blood and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
14 hours ago
z
EconomyElections
Democrats decide 2026 midterm elections are the perfect time for a civil war pitting socialists against moderates
By Jill Colvin and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
14 hours ago
police tape
North AmericaCrime
American homicides on track for lowest level in more than a century: ‘one of the most significant public safety developments in decades’
By Safiyah Riddle and The Associated PressJuly 23, 2026
14 hours ago

Most Popular

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
2 days ago
Spain lifted the World Cup, but the IRS still gets a cut of its $50 million pay day as players, coaches and refs all face complex U.S. “jock taxes”
Personal Finance
Spain lifted the World Cup, but the IRS still gets a cut of its $50 million pay day as players, coaches and refs all face complex U.S. “jock taxes”
By Joshua HongJuly 23, 2026
24 hours ago
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
Economy
The $39 trillion U.S. national debt isn’t as high as Japan’s and Singapore’s relative to economy size—and yet it's still worse somehow
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 23, 2026
15 hours ago
Current price of oil as of July 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 23, 2026
20 hours ago
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
Economy
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.