Obamanomics is the term given to the economic policies of former U. S. President Barack Obama. The former President implemented several large-scale stimulus packages to address the economic crisis of the Great Recession, one of the worst financial downturns in U. S. history. One of the most notable policies during Obama's tenure was the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This stimulus package provided $831 billion in relief to help stimulate the economy and was the largest economic package since World War II.

The Obama administration implemented other measures to help address the economic crisis, such as the 2009 bailout of the U. S. automotive industry and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Both of these policies had the goal of providing economic security to Americans, either through healthcare reform or the employment and new technology offered by the automobile bailout.

In 2009, Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act, which was designed to give relief to middle and lower-income households, as well as a boost to small businesses. The law cut taxes for individuals making a maximum of $200,000 a year, or $250,000 in the case of joint filers. It also extended unemployment benefits and included a payroll tax cut for employers.

Critics of Obamanomics argue that it was an overly interventionist approach, expanding the government's economic role and increasing government spending, taxation, and regulation. However, supporters of Obamanomics point out that his policies contributed to the U. S. economy’s recovery, and argue that it was necessary to combat the economic stagnation of the Great Recession. In addition, they point out that the unemployment rate decreased from 10% when Obama took office in 2009 to 4.7% when he left in 2017.

Obamanomics is widely contrasted with Reaganomics, the economic policies of former U. S. President Reagan, which emphasize lower taxes and limited government involvement in the economy. While both of these policies were influential, each president must make decisions based on the unique circumstances of their era, and the Obama and Reagan administrations had different economic climates to deal with during their terms in office.

In summary, Obamanomics was an economic policy initiated to combat the Great Recession of 2008. It included large-scale stimulus packages, tax relief, and other measures to provide economic security to the American populace. Supporters argue that it was necessary to help bring the economy out of the recession, while detractors argue that it was an overly interventionist approach. Nevertheless, Obamanomics has become a key issue in U. S. economics, inspiring debate on the relative merits of government intervention to stimulate economic growth.