The Fed

Nearly two decades ago, Congressman Ron Paul identified his campaign with the call to "audit the Fed." Congress ignored him then, but the movement to examine and demystify the Fed now is growing.

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.

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.”

Paul Krugman claims that the real factor determining inflation is the rate of unemployment, not increases in the supply of money. As usual, he is wrong.

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.

In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Fed chairman Jerome Powell gave assurances that the US banking system is sound. Ben Bernanke also claimed almost twenty years ago that real estate markets were not overextended. The hubris must be in the water at the Eccles Building.

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.

What will the next wild card be? Mark looks back at some historical examples.

In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Fed chairman Jerome Powell gave assurances that the US banking system is sound. Ben Bernanke also claimed almost twenty years ago that real estate markets were not overextended. The hubris must be in the water at the Eccles Building.