The Breakdown: How Can the Fed Help the Economy?

The Breakdown: How Can the Fed Help the Economy?

The Breakdown: How Can the Fed Help the Economy?

In a major speech last month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to buy more longer-term securities if the economy continues to worsen. But will this benefit really trickle down to individuals?

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In a major speech last month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to buy more longer-term securities if the economy continues to worsen. But how exactly will that boost the economy? And will this benefit somehow trickle down to individuals? Nation DC Editor Chris Hayes and Washington Post economic writer Neil Irwin answer these questions and more on this week’s edition of The Breakdown.

The Breakdown In a major speech last month, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke pledged to buy more longer-term securities if the economy continues to worsen. But how exactly will that boost the economy? And will this benefit somehow trickle down to individuals? And given the fact that interest rates are already very low, what can the Fed do to stimulate the economy beyond further cutting these rates? The Nation‘s DC Editor Chris Hayes and Washington Post economic writer Neil Irwin answer these questions and more on this week’s edition of The Breakdown.

 

Related Links

The Washington Post‘s economics blog Political Economy.
Irwin on Bernanke’s speech.
The full text of Bernanke’s speech.

Subscribe to The Breakdown on iTunes to listen to fresh takes on the confusing concepts that make politics, economics and government tick. A new episode every week!

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