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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: monetary policy

monetary policy stories: 13 news summaries
OPINION

 If Economists Fail, 
 Don't Blame Economics 

...don't give up on economics

Jul 17, 09 2:29 PM CDT
(Newser) - Economists have made some disastrous calls recently, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on economics, opines an editorial in the Economist. True, too few economists predicted the financial crisis, but the current backlash, which assumes that the dismal science is basically useless, has gone too far.... More »

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economics • academics • monetary policy • financial crisis • economists

 A Frosty Merkel Arrives in DC 

Economy, Afghanistan cloud chancellor's talks with Obama

Jun 25, 09 7:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - Angela Merkel arrives in Washington today for a two-day visit, where the German chancellor will hold talks with President Obama before a rare joint press conference in the Rose Garden. Yet despite the smiles, the two leaders have a strained if not frosty relationship, with both sides carping about economic... More »

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Barack Obama • NATO • diplomacy • Angela Merkel • Germany • Rose Garden • monetary policy • Chancellor of Germany • Stanley McChrystal

 Merkel Rips the Fed 
 for Deepening Crisis 

German chancellor says central banks have made economy worse

Jun 3, 09 6:46 AM CDT
(Newser) - World leaders rarely criticize central banks in public, but yesterday Angela Merkel laid into the Fed, the European Central Bank, and other institutions for deepening the global economic crisis. In a tough speech, the German chancellor claimed that the banks were too powerful, had acted too aggressively, and, in the... More »

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Angela Merkel • Federal Reserve • global economy • central bank • European Central Bank • monetary policy • Chancellor of Germany • financial crisis

2008 Inflation Slowest in 50 Years on Oil Prices, Economy

Slow spending, sliding energy costs lead to 0.1% CPI increase last year

Jan 16, 09 8:43 AM CST
(Newser) - In 2008, consumer prices crept up at the slowest rate since 1954, climbing just 0.1% for the year and missing the Fed’s preference of 1.5% to 2% by a wide margin, the Wall Street Journal reports. Just months after inflation hit 17-year highs, a 75% drop in... More »

MORE ABOUT:
inflation • Ben Bernanke • Federal Reserve • deflation • interest rate • commodities • monetary policy • financial meltdown

OPINION

Obama Must Spend Boldly— or It's Great Depression II

Only government can save us now: Krugman

Jan 5, 09 7:55 AM CST
(Newser) - For decades economists believed that a second Great Depression was impossible; all the Fed had to do, they said, is print more money. But as Paul Krugman writes, monetary policy has failed; despite "supplying liquidity like an engine crew trying to put out a five-alarm fire," credit remains... More »

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Barack Obama • Federal Reserve • Paul Krugman • economic stimulus package • Great Depression • monetary policy • financial crisis • President Obama • John Maynard Keynes • fiscal policy

 Think 1% Is Low? 
 He Could Go to Zero 

Analysts predict Japan-style cuts in interest rates

Oct 30, 08 9:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Yesterday Ben Bernanke cut the federal funds rate to an ectomorphic 1%—but the Fed might not be done yet. More and more analysts are predicting that the central bank will have to cut rates all the way to zero if it wants to get the economy moving again. But... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Ben Bernanke • Federal Reserve • interest rate • interest rate cut • monetary policy • financial crisis

Bailouts Blast Fed Into Uncharted Territory

Central bank's new roles stretch balance sheet to the limit

Sep 18, 08 3:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Fed's mammoth bailout of financial firms is unprecedented in the history of the central bank, which now must play new and contradictory roles, the New York Times reports. The Fed has often been called the nation's lender of last resort—but the acquisition of AIG and holding of Bear... More »

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Ben Bernanke • Federal Reserve • central bank • AIG • bailout • monetary policy • financial crisis

OPINION

Wait on Rate Hikes Until
Crisis Eases

Fed should ignore critics, hold its ground until markets rebound

Sep 3, 08 5:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - Critics claim the Federal Reserve has been too eager to cut interest rates, and that lax policy has exacerbated inflation. But the Fed should hold its ground, Desmond Lachman argues in the American, until the housing and credit markets are clearly on the rebound. The credit crunch has prompted banks... More »

MORE ABOUT:
inflation • housing market • Federal Reserve • foreclosure • US economy • interest rate • credit crisis • lending practices • interest rate cut • monetary policy

Fed's Broader Portfolio Raises Some Worries

Central bank appears deft so far, but crisis could stretch it thinner

Jul 17, 08 12:18 PM CDT
(Newser) - Ben Bernanke has been busy recently—too busy, in the minds of some. The chairman has expanded the Federal Reserve's role beyond traditional monetary policymaker to being an all-purpose protector of the financial system. Many of his dramatic moves—the Bear Stearns buyout, backstopping Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—averted... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Ben Bernanke • Federal Reserve • monetary policy • financial crisis

ANALYSIS

 In Turmoil,
 Bernanke Forged
 New Persona 

Fed chief sheds academic image with crisis management; some worry he went too far

May 28, 08 10:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke’s aggressive actions in March to douse the fire consuming financial markets won him fans on Wall Street and elsewhere, but created a cadre of critics who say the “Bernanke Doctrine” fuels inflation and hurts the dollar, the New York Times reports. “It... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Ben Bernanke • Federal Reserve • prime rate • interest rate cut • monetary policy

MARKETS

 Jobs Rally Fizzles; Stocks Mixed 

Cautious market not fully inspired by jobs, Fed action

May 2, 08 3:37 PM CDT
(Newser) - The markets ended mixed today as a rally spurred by news of fewer April job losses than expected and the Fed's bank-liquidity expansion died down before the closing bell, MarketWatch reports. The Dow rose 48.20, closing at 13,058.20, and the S&P 500 gained 4.56 to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Federal Reserve • Dow Jones • rally • Nasdaq • jobless claims • S&P 500 • monetary policy

 Bear Bailout Called 'Worst Mistake in a Generation'

Bear Stearns move 'worst mistake in generation,' he charges

Apr 29, 08 8:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - A former top-ranking Fed official has called the central bank's decision to bail out Bear Stearns its "worst mistake in a generation," the Wall Street Journal reports. The official, former chief of monetary policy, compares the hasty move to errors that helped trigger the Great Depression. He accused... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Federal Reserve • Bear Stearns • liquidity • banking • Great Depression • monetary policy • financial crisis

No 'Reward' For Borrowers, Lenders: McCain

GOP candidate blasts risky mortgages, nixes government bailout

Mar 25, 08 4:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - John McCain said today he opposes government action to bail out homeowners having trouble with their mortgages, the New York Times reports. McCain—who will receive Nancy Reagan's endorsement today—differentiated himself from both Democratic candidates, who have called for federal intervention, saying: “It is not the duty of... More »

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John McCain • mortgage • Nancy Reagan • mortgage backed securities • subprime crisis • monetary policy

13 Stories


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