“Money and Monetary Policy for the Twenty-first Century”
This essay challenges the conventional wisdom about money and monetary policy. The role of money in fostering prosperity is a function of the quality, as well as the quantity, of money. Inflation always harms the performance of an economy. Deflations caused by productivity and innovation can be virtuous. A definition of a non-inflationary environment is set forth. Rapid real growth and low unemployment cannot cause inflation. There is no trade-off between inflation and employment. Higher commodity prices or “weak” exchange rates cannot cause inflation. High market interest rates are a symptom of inflationary policies. Low interest rates are a reflection of successful antiinflationary policies, not “easy money.” Read more.
“Money and Monetary Policy for the Twenty-first Century”
Jerry Jordan
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review, Nov/Dec 2006.
