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What is the difference in meaning between "problems with the economy" and "problems of the economy"?

GPY · Accepted Answer

There seems little identifiable difference in actual meaning. However, there may sometimes be usage differences related to sentence flow. For example, "There are problems with the economy" seems more likely than "There are problems of the economy".

Of course, you can also say "economic problems", which is probably more common than either.

Taka · Answer

OK. So there is no substantial difference between "problem of X" and "problem with X". I see.

Thanks, GPY!

GPY · Answer

TakaOK. So there is no substantial difference between "problem of X" and "problem with X". I see.Thanks, GPY!

I would not like to commit to that generalisation. There may be cases where the difference is significant.

Taka · Answer

GPY There may be cases where the difference is significant.

Would you come up with an example where there is a significant difference between the two?

Anonymous · Answer

There can be a subtle difference in usage, for example:

The Secretary of the Treasury promised to devote all of his time to the problems with the economy (there is something wrong with the economy, which has surfaced recently) that have shown up in recent months. (You wouldn't use "of" in this situation.)

The problems of the economy (there have been economic problems over a significant period) threaten to derail the President's re-election bid. (You wouldn't use "with" in this situation.)

GPY · Answer

TakaWould you come up with an example where there is a significant difference between the two?

Well, it is quite often the case that they will not both create natural English. The most common case seems to be "with" not being replaceable by "of". For example, you can say "I'm having problems with my computer", but not "I'm having problems of my computer".

An example where both make sense but the meaning differs is "the problems of/with quantum physics", where "with" implies that there is something wrong with the science, while "of" means that the study of the problems is actually part of the science. I'm thinking now that a similar difference of emphasis may exist in certain contexts for "problems of/with the economy", so I may have to slightly backtrack on my original reply. Hmm.

Taka · Answer

What about "the global food problem"?

Is it "the global problem with food" or "the global problem of food"? Or would both work?

Or is it that both would work but the meaning would be a bit different?

GPY · Answer

TakaWhat about "the global food problem"?Is it "the global problem with food" or "the global problem of food"? Or would both work? Or is it that both would work but the meaning would be a bit different?

I find it hard to judge these without seeing them in a full context. Perhaps "the global problem with food" tends to sound, more than the others, as if there is a quality problem rather than an insufficiency problem. I would guess that "global food problem" (probably implying insufficiency) is a more common wording than the other two.

Taka · Answer

I see.

Thanks for the comments, as always, GPY!

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