Booms and Busts

The Federal Reserve claims to be independent and politically neutral. But since its actions have political ramifications, it is impossible for the Fed to be either.

The United States survived the first Great Depression, although it permanently changed the role of government. Will excessive government spending and money creation lead to Great Depression II?

As the Fed engages in rollercoaster monetary policies, the errors that build up during the Fed-induced boom turn into a veritable “circus of errors.”

Stoked by ultra-loose monetary policy from the Federal Reserve, capital markets have been in a persistent bubble for several years.

The Fed-launched real estate bubble did not just create havoc in residential markets, but also has distorted the commercial real estate market, too. And it is getting worse.

Few economists—even the free-market advocates—understand what caused the Great Depression. No, the Fed didn’t cause the Depression by failing to inflate the currency. Instead, it was the Fed’s inflation that led to the disastrous early events.

Many of the high-flying businesses that received massive publicity turned out to be the creation of a bubble economy. Not all businesses are flashes in a pan; many of them continue to serve as the backbone of our economy.

If the housing market is an indicator, the Fed's actions in slowing down the housing market soon will be reflected in the economy itself.

By borrowing money and “creating” new jobs, the government is creating the illusion of a strong economy. This does not end well.

Economist Peter St. Onge summarizes some of the major financial and government news stories of the day.