Tyler Schipper, an associate professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, has contributed to a discussion with OSV News on the ethical dimensions of U.S. tariff policies, particularly in light of Catholic social teaching. Speaking in the context of recent Supreme Court deliberations, Schipper highlighted how economic decisions can disproportionately affect low-income households. The court recently examined the scope of presidential authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), with justices from across the ideological spectrum questioning whether former President Donald Trump overstepped his powers by imposing broad tariffs on numerous countries. n nSchipper participated in an interdisciplinary forum reflecting on Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic letter “Dilexi Te,” where he pointed to a passage from the Gospel of Luke: “he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” He suggested this could be interpreted as supporting progressive economic models, such as progressive taxation, which contrast sharply with flat or universal tariffs. According to Schipper, across-the-board tariffs tend to be regressive, placing a heavier burden on lower-income families who spend a larger share of their income on imported goods. This, he argues, raises moral concerns when evaluating national trade policy through the lens of social justice. n
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In the News: Tyler Schipper on the Economic Impact of Tariffs – Newsroom
Tyler Schipper, associate professor of economics in the University of St. Thomas College of Arts and Sciences, shared insights with OSV News on how U.S. tariff policy intersects with Catholic social teaching. Drawing on recent Supreme Court deliberations and the Church’s emphasis on justice for the poor, Schipper reflected on the moral dimensions of economic policy and its real-world impact on struggling families. n nFrom the article: n nAs the U.S. Supreme Court considered President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff policy, economists raised concerns about the potential impact of that policy on the poor. n nIn oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court Nov. 5, justices across the ideological spectrum expressed skepticism of the Trump administration’s claim that the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, granted the president unilateral power to impose sweeping tariffs on nearly every country around the globe, with some seemingly suggesting he exceeded his authority in imposing them. … n nTyler Schipper, an associate professor of economics at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, told OSV News that he was recently part of an interdisciplinary panel reflecting on Pope Leo XIV’s “Dilexi Te.” n n“In the first paragraph he cites Luke (“he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty”) in a way that could be interpreted as a call for progressive taxation – and would likely be inconsistent with how tariffs are being applied today,” Schipper said. n nSchipper argued that the problem with the across-the-board tariffs – such as the ones under the Supreme Court’s scrutiny – “is that they are regressive.” …