“Among the most important determinants of economic success are the rule of law and economic and political certainty. For a country like the US, which is embedded in deep relationships with other countries, conforming to international norms and having normal and stable relationships with other countries is also an imperative,” the letter said.

“Donald Trump and the vagaries of his actions and policies threaten this stability and the US’s standing in the world.” The signatories also praised President Joe Biden’s record on the economy, including a “remarkably strong and equitable” recovery in the labour market since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While each of us has different views on the particulars of various economic policies, we all agree that Joe Biden’s economic agenda is vastly superior to Donald Trump’s,” the economists said. “In his first four years as President, Joe Biden signed into law major investments in the U.S. economy, including in infrastructure, domestic manufacturing, and climate. Together, these investments are likely to increase productivity and economic growth while lowering long-term inflationary pressures and facilitating the clean energy transition.”

The signatories of the letter, which was first reported by Axios, include Columbia University Professor Joseph Stiglitz, Yale professor Robert Shiller and Sir Angus Deaton.

Trump and Biden, a Democrat, are running neck and neck in opinion polls ahead of their first presidential debate on Thursday. Prospective voters, however, have repeatedly rated Trump as more trustworthy on the economy.