Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

The Fed Can Fix It

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Despite the name, I don’t just want to talk about the marvels of the Fed, but actually about how the Fed is a good model for other public agencies and corporations. The Federal Reserve has always been the target of criticism from all sides of the spectrum, but this is reflective of inherent strengths of the Fed that naturally can draw some ire from the Political space. The Federal Reserve has successfully led the country through over 70 years of economic hardships in way that no other governmental body truly could and this is due to its unique features that set Continue reading The Fed Can Fix It→

Modern Monetary Theory: Let’s Play Some Calvin Ball

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Modern Monetary Theory or MMT as it is also known, is a new branch of heterodox economics that is quickly gaining popularity among the political far-left in American politics. While the theory is quite confusing in its exact specifications and rules ( Economist Paul Krugman likened it to “Calvin ball”) the basic tenets are that the assumptions of “fiat currency” and “endogenous money” are the correct macroeconomic assumptions. While these are core elements for most MMT theorists, it is important to stress that like many heterodox economic theories and “Calvin ball,” the ‘rules’ often change depending on which promoter of the Continue reading Modern Monetary Theory: Let’s Play Some Calvin Ball→

The Economics of Our Candidates, Part 3

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Welcome to part three of my three part series on our presidential candidates’ stances on economic issues. In case you missed it, here’s the first on taxation and the second on financial reform. Again, we lost some candidates since last I posted. Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina will be sorely missed, as well as Jim Gilmore, I guess. For this final week, the issue is the Fed! First, a woefully short description of the Federal Reserve (aka the Fed). They deal with monetary policy, playing some role in deciding the value of the dollar by controlling the federal funds rate. Banks and Continue reading The Economics of Our Candidates, Part 3→

Anecdotes at the Federal Reserve

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The Federal Reserve occupies a special pedestal of authority and competence in the arena of governmental bodies charged with economic policy. Compared to Congress, it acts with amazing unity and speed. Moreover, compared to Congresses’s shortsighted and often political settlements, the Federal Reserve tends to make calculated, strategic decisions with an close eye to their long-term ramifications.The tendency of investors and analysts to hang on very last word of the Chairman’s public statements evidences the delicately crafted nature of its policy. However, in moments of crisis, even the ordered, empirical world of the Fed policy-making can be turned upside down. Transcripts of Federal Open Market Committee Continue reading Anecdotes at the Federal Reserve→

A Beginner’s Guide to Inflation

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Inflation. It’s one of those economic terms that gets thrown around a lot, but perhaps not explained as much as it should be. I’d like to offer an accessible and brief guide to understanding inflation, mostly for intro economics students but also for anyone that may find themselves in a situation where someone tries to tell you that inflation is “bad” or “good”. Inflation is a necessary part of our current and modern economy. It is neither good nor bad, it simply exists, and there are benefits and consequences to relatively higher or lower inflation. The debate on inflation should always Continue reading A Beginner’s Guide to Inflation→

A Glimpse into the Federal Reserve

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The Federal Reserve recently released a transcript of their Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in September 16, 2008. The FOMC oversees the Fed’s “Open Market Operations,” purchase and sale of bonds; the Fed controls our money supply through this mechanism. It makes sense for the operational arm of the Fed to convene bright and early—8:30am—that day. This meeting took place in the thick of the financial crisis. Chairman Bernanke opened the session: “Good morning, everybody. Sorry for the late beginning. The markets are continuing to experience very significant stresses this morning, and there are increasing concerns about the insurance company AIG.” The Continue reading A Glimpse into the Federal Reserve→

Fed Chair Zero Bound

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Janet Yellen—recently nominated to be the next Chairperson the Federal Reserve—is certainly breaking new ground. If her nomination is confirmed by the senate, she will be the first woman to lead the institution in its history. Her likely rise is especially significant in the field of central banking. According to CNN,12 of the world’s 160 central banks, only about 6%, had female governors last year. But although her gender shatters the historical norm of Fed chairs, she also carries on a curious pattern in that office—through her stature. It seems that our head central bankers keep getting smaller and smaller. Paul Continue reading Fed Chair Zero Bound→