Alan Blinder
Powell lauded for independence fight
Economists discuss former Fed chief’s performance on monetary policy and communications
Trump’s rate cuts ‘demand’ spells trouble for Fed – economists
Comments will cause problems for central bank and threaten its independence, academics claim
Book notes: A monetary and fiscal history of the United States, 1961–2021, by Alan Blinder
The book’s breakthrough is its infusion of the history of fiscal policy into a theoretical framework traditionally focused on monetary instruments. It is a splendid and thrilling read
Book notes: Yellen, by Jon Hilsenrath
This book offers new insights into the tough decisions and tremendous efforts Yellen has made as a pre-eminent economic policy-maker
Otmar Issing on the art of central bank communications
EMU architect speaks about Draghi’s “whatever it takes” intervention, forward guidance failures, the Fed’s average inflation target ‘miscommunication’, and why the ECB may be overreaching in its strategy review
Governors think unconventional tools may not stay – ECB survey
Advanced economies’ governors are more likely to favour keeping QE tools
Book notes: The Man Who Knew: The Life & Times of Alan Greenspan, by Sebastian Mallaby
An extensive account of Greenspan's life and achievements, but would have benefited from a closer analysis of his relationships with comrades at the Fed
A sad ending to Summers versus Yellen
The politicisation of the debate over who should be the next chair of the Federal Reserve may be a sign of the times, but it is a sad day for central banking, argues Thomas Cargill