출처: Block Media
U.S. Lawmakers Outperform Stock Market in 2024: Renewed Scrutiny and Calls for Transparency
U.S. lawmakers have once again made headlines for their exceptional stock market performance in 2024, sparking widespread scrutiny over transparency and potential conflicts of interest. A comprehensive report from Unusual Whales, a financial analytics platform, reveals significant gains achieved by several politicians, reigniting discussions around the ethics of congressional trading activities.
Released on December 18, the report tracked stock portfolio performance among members of Congress for the year spanning December 29, 2023, to December 30, 2024. Among the standout performers was Republican Representative David Rouzer, whose portfolio generated a jaw-dropping 149.0% return. Not far behind was Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz with a 142.3% gain, followed closely by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who posted returns of 123.8%.
Other noteworthy figures included Republican Representative Roger Williams, raking in a 111.2% gain, and Democratic Representative **Morgan McGarvey%, who achieved a 105.8% return. These figures far outstripped the benchmark performance of the S&P 500, which delivered a total return (including dividends) of 25.02% for the year.
Political Alpha: Concern Grows Over Lawmaker Trading Success
The unprecedented stock market success of lawmakers continues to raise eyebrows, as the report uncovered that more than half of the top 10 performers earned returns exceeding 70%. This trend has fueled ongoing concerns about "political alpha," a term used to describe potential advantages that officeholders might gain via privileged information or connections unique to their positions.
While lawmakers from both major parties were evenly represented among the elite performers, a slight Democratic tilt was evident, with three of the top five being Democrats. Beyond the frontrunners, other prominent names surfaced in the rankings, including Republican Senator Susan Collins, who attained a 77.5% return, former Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who secured a 71.5% gain, and Republican Representative Ann Wagner, achieving a solid 70.5%.
These striking outcomes have raised questions about whether lawmakers are leveraging insider knowledge or industry connections to beat the market, intensifying public scrutiny.
Diverging Results: Not All Lawmakers Excel
Despite the impressive performance of several legislators, outcomes were mixed across the board. Some lawmakers faltered when compared to their higher-achieving colleagues, showcasing the variability of financial acumen even within Congress.
For example, Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville posted a relatively modest return of 5.7%, marking the lowest gains among those monitored. Democratic Representatives Suzan DelBene and Ro Khanna also recorded subdued performances, earning 12.9% and 19.1%, respectively—figures that fell short of broader market benchmarks but were still positive.
Renewed Pressure for Financial Accountability in Congress
The extraordinary success of U.S. lawmakers in stock trading has drawn intensifying scrutiny since 2020. Reports of consistent outperformance year after year have fueled growing concerns about transparency and possible misuse of insider information. This has led to mounting calls for stricter regulations governing congressional financial activities.
The Unusual Whales report underscored this issue, stating, "Since 2020, certain lawmakers have consistently outperformed the market every year. This underscores the need for enhanced transparency and stronger oversight of financial activities within Congress."
The findings for 2024 serve to accelerate national dialogue on implementing regulatory reforms, such as banning congressional stock trading or mandating the diversification of portfolios into blind trusts to eliminate conflicts of interest.
As some legislators report even higher returns than in previous years, expectations for tighter oversight are set to grow. Advocacy for improved financial accountability is likely to dominate headlines once again as policymakers grapple with the ethical implications of “beating the market” while serving in public office.
Conclusion
The recurring trend of U.S. lawmakers outperforming the stock market has sparked renewed debates over transparency and ethical trading practices. With calls growing louder for reforms, the Unusual Whales report serves as a catalyst for continued scrutiny, demanding answers and accountability—and potentially reshaping how financial transactions within Congress are governed. As public trust remains at stake, eyes will stay fixed on these developments in 2025 and beyond.
