Peter Orszag’s Media Contributions
Peter Orszag, CEO and Chairman of Lazard, is a recognized voice in issues that affect global business leaders and policymakers at the intersection of business, economic, and policy considerations, frequently contributing to leading media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs Magazine, and CNBC.
Through interviews, op-eds, and expert commentary, he offers insights on the trends driving global merger and acquisition activity, geopolitical considerations impacting business decisions, as well as fiscal policy and market trends, drawing on his leadership at Lazard and experience across business, finance, public policy, and academia.
This page highlights his contributions to global conversations, featuring links to articles, publications, and broadcast appearances.
New York Times
Peter Orszag contributes guest essays to the New York Times and regularly appears in interviews. His commentary centers on issues that matter to global business, including fiscal sustainability, healthcare economics, trade, and geopolitics. He brings the perspective of a global CEO informed by earlier service at OMB and CBO.
View his NYT author page here.
I Was Obama’s Budget Director. It’s Time to Worry About the National Debt (May 26, 2025)
Peter Orszag warns that rising deficits, higher interest rates, and mounting federal debt pose new risks to U.S. economic stability. He calls for reforms such as eliminating the debt ceiling, extending Treasury maturities, and boosting long-term growth.
Read here
Trump’s Tariffs, Market Panic and What Comes Next(April 11, 2025)
Peter Orszag joined The Ezra Klein Show, a New York Times podcast, to discuss how tariffs introduced under President Trump reflect a broader shift in global trade and economics. In the conversation, he outlines the long-term implications for businesses, policymakers, and international markets.
Watch here
The Atlantic
Peter Orszag periodically contributes to The Atlantic, with a focus on economic and business issues and opportunities facing the country.
View his Atlantic author page here.
The Economy Is Turning Into a Black Box (September 17, 2025)
Orszag describes how sophisticated private sources could provide a fuller picture of the state of the economy, despite the government not trying to use them.
Read here
The Washington Post
Peter Orszag previously served as a regular opinion columnist for The Washington Post, with content focused on fiscal policy, economic trends, and global finance. His columns challenge conventional wisdom and provide pragmatic solutions to pressing economic issues.
View his Washington Post author page here.
How the Trade War Could Expand Beyond Tariffs (February 13, 2025)
Orszag argues that escalating tariffs risk undermining the dollar’s global role and worsening economic tensions with China. He calls for a more balanced approach to trade that preserves U.S. credibility while addressing long-term competitiveness.
Read here
Silicon Valley and the Military Need to Bury the Hatchet (February 11, 2025)
In this column, Orszag highlights the critical need for stronger partnerships between the tech sector and the U.S. military. He warns that without greater collaboration, the U.S. risks falling behind in key areas of defense innovation.
Read here
Stop Rolling the Dice on the American Economy (January 14, 2025)
Orszag calls for abolishing the federal debt ceiling, describing it as a dangerous and outdated political tool. He argues that repeated brinkmanship over the limit threatens economic stability and U.S. creditworthiness.
Read here
The Real Story of Inflation (November 14, 2024)
Orszag challenges the popular narrative that inflation was primarily driven by the American Rescue Plan, showing how pandemic-induced supply shocks played the dominant role and cautioning against false conclusions.
Read here
Trump’s Latest Personnel Decision Is Good News for Inflation (December 12, 2024)
Orszag welcomes the administration’s move to preserve the Federal Reserve’s independence, noting that political interference in central banking—seen in countries like Turkey—can fuel inflation and destabilize economies.
Read here
Foreign Affairs Magazine
Peter Orszag periodically writes for Foreign Affairs magazine, analyzing how global political dynamics intersect with economic trends and corporate strategic decisions.
View his Foreign Affairs author page here
The Troubled Energy Transition (February 25, 2025)
Daniel Yergin, Peter Orszag, and Atul Arya explore how while 2024 global production of wind and solar energy reached record levels, notable advances in the energy transition may still fall short.
Read here
Geopolitics in the C-Suite (March 11, 2024)
Jami Miscik, Peter Orszag, and Theodore Bunzel explore how today, more than ever, U.S. foreign policy depends on corporations, and vice versa.
Read here
CNBC
Peter Orszag appears on CNBC to discuss markets, fiscal policy, and Lazard’s global strategy. Through interviews and guest segments, he shares insights on economic risks, financial trends, and long-term growth.
View his CNBC speaker page here.
Lazard CEO: Don’t believe prominent bankruptcies show broader private credit problems (October 23, 2025)
Peter Orszag, Lazard chairman and CEO, joins CNBC ‘Money Movers’ to discuss the restructuring side of Lazard’s business, the overall economy and deficit and much more.
Watch here
Lazard CEO Peter Orszag: Expect some upward pressure on core inflation (September 11, 2025)
Peter Orszag, Lazard CEO and Chairman, joins ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the state of the economy, the Fed’s inflation fight, rate path outlook, latest market trends, M&A landscape, and more.
Watch here
Full Interview with Lazard CEO Peter Orszag (July 24, 2025)
In this extended interview, Peter Orszag discusses Lazard’s strategy, the global economic outlook, and his vision for the firm’s long-term growth. He shares insights on navigating market volatility and the opportunities ahead for financial advisory and asset management.
Watch here
Lazard CEO: Any Fed Rate Cuts in 2025 Will Be Due to Bad News (May 7, 2025)
Speaking with CNBC, Peter Orszag explains why potential Federal Reserve rate cuts in 2025 are likely to signal economic weakness rather than strength. He outlines the challenges facing policymakers and the implications for markets and growth.
Watch here
Peter Orszag on LinkedIn
Peter Orszag is an active voice on LinkedIn, where he shares perspectives on global finance, corporate leadership, and policy trends with a wide professional audience. His authored articles regularly appear in LinkedIn Top News and are widely circulated among business leaders and policymakers.
View Peter Orszag on LinkedIn
The U.S. Is Increasingly a Levered Bet on AI (September 20, 2025)
Peter Orszag explores how while many of the factors that have driven U.S. economic outperformance over the past several decades are under stress, the U.S. economy continues to grow at a reasonable pace, with equity markets at all-time highs. How can both be simultaneously true? The answer is that the U.S. is making one of the biggest economic bets in history—on the extraordinary expectations of artificial intelligence—with outcomes that have the potential to reshape America’s economic future.
Read here
Evolving Patterns of Firm Performance: Implications for M&A and Liability Management (August 4, 2025) Co-Authored with William Murdock
Peter Orszag and William Murdock examine how widening gaps between top- and bottom-performing firms are reshaping corporate activity. They argue this divergence could drive both increased M&A by high performers and greater restructuring among weaker firms, signaling a shift from historical patterns.
Read here.
Race for the Future: How the U.S. Can Preserve Dollar Dominance in the Age of Digital Payments (June 10, 2025)
Peter Orszag argues that the U.S. must modernize its payment infrastructure to preserve dollar dominance in an era of digital currencies. He highlights the promise of the Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) or well-regulated stablecoins as key tools to maintain financial leadership amid rising global competition, especially from China.
Read here.
Megatrends: Investing in the Next Decade (May 22, 2025) Co-Authored with Steve Wreford
Peter Orszag and Steve Wreford outline how demographic, technological, and geopolitical shifts are creating long-term opportunities for investors. He emphasizes the importance of thematic investing–particularly in areas like AI, healthcare innovation, and reshoring–while cautioning that success depends on careful implementation, timing, and discipline.
Read here.
