4 ms·

The differences between a recession and what we have now, a depression, include that interest rate changes are impotent and price deflation. Benanke did his di

The differences between a recession and what we have now, a depression, include that interest rate changes are impotent and price deflation. Benanke did his disseration on the Great Depression and essentially stated that to fight price deflation they should have used monetary inflation. That's what we're doing. They don't even publish the M3 anymore but estimates are that the currency printing presses are going at full speed. The problem that Ben didn't anticipate is while rates are low and people want to borrow, banks -- flush with cash to lend -- don't want to. The monetary inflation can't keep up with deflation, which (you're right) is lethal.

jamieb 15y ago
I'm not the one modding you down, and I should clarify: by "inflation" I mean "increase in prices", as opposed "greater monetary availability". The fed is, with QEx attempting to provide greater liquidity, thinking that this will cause price rises, and in turn spur spending and transactions. Of course its having no effect whatsoever. String pushing at its best. Also: the only people who want to borrow right now are those who are borrowing just to stay fed. Rightly, the banks dont want to lend to them.
- david927 15y ago
  I'm not modded down... by "inflation" I mean "increase in prices", = price inflation as opposed "greater monetary availability" = monetary inflation You can't control price inflation/deflation, you can only control monetary inflation. It doesn't matter why the banks don't want to lend, the point is, Bernanke's plan can't work until they do. (But let's be honest: it won't work in any case.)
  - jamieb 15y ago
    You can't control price inflation/deflation, you can only control monetary inflation. I disagree. Gas prices go up when the dollar drops (not the only reason, but a guaranteed one). Make the yuan and the yen vastly more expensive, or just block imports at the port, and prices will go up. Maybe even to the point where it will be cost effective to pay americans to make them.

jamieb 15y ago

I'm not the one modding you down, and I should clarify: by "inflation" I mean "increase in prices", as opposed "greater monetary availability". The fed is, with QEx attempting to provide greater liquidity, thinking that this will cause price rises, and in turn spur spending and transactions. Of course its having no effect whatsoever. String pushing at its best. Also: the only people who want to borrow right now are those who are borrowing just to stay fed. Rightly, the banks dont want to lend to them.

david927 15y ago
I'm not modded down... by "inflation" I mean "increase in prices", = price inflation as opposed "greater monetary availability" = monetary inflation You can't control price inflation/deflation, you can only control monetary inflation. It doesn't matter why the banks don't want to lend, the point is, Bernanke's plan can't work until they do. (But let's be honest: it won't work in any case.)
- jamieb 15y ago
  You can't control price inflation/deflation, you can only control monetary inflation. I disagree. Gas prices go up when the dollar drops (not the only reason, but a guaranteed one). Make the yuan and the yen vastly more expensive, or just block imports at the port, and prices will go up. Maybe even to the point where it will be cost effective to pay americans to make them.