US President Joe Biden and his economic policies will be remembered for the growth they brought to the country and the intense battle against inflation.

After tackling the post-coronavirus pandemic recovery, the Biden administration pushed infrastructure and clean energy investments as the US experienced historically low unemployment rates.

During Biden's four-year term, his administration made notable strides in combating post-pandemic inflation.

As voters voted Tuesday to re-elect Donald Trump, however, concerns about the high cost of living under Biden overshadowed economic progress.

Despite policies contributing to growth and employment, public discontent focused on the administration's large-scale spending, which increased the public debt.

Biden's first major decision came after he took office on Jan. 20, 2021, succeeding Trump in the midst of a pandemic-induced recession.

Biden passed the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package designed to combat the effects of the pandemic through public health and economic recovery measures.

It faced criticism for contributing to short-term inflationary pressures.

The administration later approved a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package to boost jobs through projects related to roads, bridges, Internet connectivity and other public infrastructure.

Inflation, fueled by pandemic disruptions, became Biden's most criticized issue as the economy reopened. Monetary stimulus following the easing of pandemic restrictions lifted US inflation from 1.4% in January 2021, when Biden took office, to 9% by June 2022 -- the highest since 1981. Although they initially played down the increase as temporary , the White House and the Fed prioritized inflation control after admitting their miscalculation.

This September, the Fed eased its tight monetary policy, raising rates from March 2022, while annual inflation slowed to 2.4% two months ago.

On climate and clean energy, the administration introduced the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, the nation's most ambitious climate package.

The bill covers health, climate and tax regulations to reduce inflation, reduce greenhouse emissions and support green energy and electric vehicles. Republicans and the fossil fuel industry criticized the policies amid rising energy costs.

On employment, the administration watched the U.S. unemployment rate hit a 50-year low of 3.4% in 2023.

The pandemic led to a peak unemployment rate of 14.8% in April 2020. When Biden took office, it was at 6.4% and quickly fell below 6% by May 2001.

The pandemic caused a global economic downturn, shrinking economies around the world. The US economy shrank 2.2% in 2020, but rebounded with 6.1% growth in 2021 under Biden.

Growth then slowed to 2.5% in 2022 as the Fed's rate hike took effect and reached 2.9% last year.

The US economy grew 1.6% in the first quarter of 2024, 3% in the second and 2.8% in the third, despite a loss of momentum in 2022.

The public debt, however, reached $35.8 trillion under Biden, with Republicans criticizing the administration's spending. High interest rates have further complicated debt management.

The US posted the second largest budget deficit at $2.8 trillion in fiscal year 2021, after a $3.1 trillion deficit in 2020 under Trump.

In fiscal year 2022, the deficit fell to $1.4 trillion, but increased to $1.7 trillion in 2023, reaching $1.8 trillion in fiscal year 2024./AA/