Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Considering Causes of Recessions vs. Rates of Recessions

April 27, 2012, 3:14pm

Anthony Randazzo

Assuming the desirability of a recession rate, speed of economic growth, and level of equality all divorced from their causes is not a leap of logic we should lightly undertake.

The Fed As Source of Income Inequality

April 23, 2012, 2:24pm

Anthony Randazzo

We've noted before that income inequality is not inherently a bad thing—what matters is the source of the inequality. In last week's WSJ, hedge fund founder Mark Spitznagel points out one bad source creating artificial income disparagement... the Fed.

Sheila Bair on the Prowl, a Guide

April 16, 2012, 8:40am

Anthony Randazzo

The idea former FDIC Chairwoman Sheila Bair proposes in her Washington Post op-ed is completely crazy, but that is the point. She is just articulating what Fed policy is for the financial system, suggesting it for the population as a whole, and showing it to be crazy on both fronts. Here is a guide to understanding the Bair tongue-anchored-to-cheek op-ed.

Discord in the Fed

April 12, 2012, 5:07pm

Anthony Randazzo

Today, at a meeting of the National Economics Club I was attending, Philadelphia Fed President Charles Plosser note that when QE2 was launched in 2010 that unemployment was soaring and inflation was nill, and that because unemployment is falling and inflation is picking up that rather than talk about the need for QE3 we should be looking to tighten monetary policy.

Tidequistadors In Search of Sound Money

A laundry soap has developed as much legitimacy as the dollar to serve as currency, what's going on?

April 9, 2012

Anthony Randazzo

Over the past few months, the police force in Prince George’s County, Maryland has been dealing with a strange rash of robberies. Thieves have been going into grocery stores and drug stores, loading their carts up with stacks of money, and then rushing out the door where they have a get-away car waiting. A sane man may ask why CVS and Wal-Mart are stocking piles of cash where the peanuts and greeting cards should be. But these thieves are not taking U.S. legal tender—they’re stealing Tide laundry soap.

The Federal Reserve Signals No Further Easing…Until the Next Easing

April 4, 2012, 12:12pm

James Groth

Minutes for the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting were released yesterday afternoon sending the stock market down and treasuries up largely due to the hawkish tone of the release. Despite the language and market reactions, the Fed will continue to ease.

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