The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire

Home > Other > The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire > Page 55
The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire Page 55

by Neil Irwin

Outright Money Transactions (OMT), 382–84

  powers of, 81

  president, selection of, 298

  prohibitions, going beyond, 221–22, 320–21

  thirty-year secrecy rule, 136, 230–32

  European Central Bank (ECB) remedies

  austerity programs. See Deficit reduction

  BNP Paribas bailout (2007), 3–4, 111

  bond purchases by. See Securities Markets Programme (SMP)

  and central banker. See Draghi, Mario; Trichet, Jean-Claude

  effectiveness of, 286–87, 295, 317

  errors and fiscal crisis, 135–37, 212–13, 303–5

  Geithner on bolder moves, 219, 226, 324

  and Greek debt restructuring, 312–16

  to Greek financial crisis, 209–13, 215–19

  interest rate cuts (2011), 344, 353

  interest rate hike (2008), 137, 160

  interest rate hike (2011), 303–4

  internal devaluation, 302–3

  Ireland bailout, 283–84, 292–94

  lack of coordination problem, 158–61

  oversight of foreign banks, 216, 283–86, 294–96

  tight money approach, 208–9

  wall of money approach (2011), 350–53

  European Commission, 75

  European Economic Community, 74–75

  European financial crises

  British pound devaluation (1992), 72–73

  German hyperinflation (1914–1918), 47–53

  German hyperinflation, pre–Nazi era, 50–53, 60

  Panic of 1866 (England), 26–28, 31–34

  Stockholms Banco rise and fall, 17–24

  of 2007–2012. See European financial crisis (2007–2012); Eurozone countries; individual countries

  European financial crisis (2007–2012). See also individual countries

  beginning of, 1–8, 111–12

  BNP Paribas collapse, 1–4, 111

  British crisis, 236–46, 251–52, 332–36

  Federal Reserve interventions, 131–32, 153–55, 226–27, 229, 349–50

  global interventions, 128–32, 161–63, 349–50

  Greece crisis, 201–23, 285–91, 306–16

  Iceland crisis, 284

  Ireland crisis, 158–59, 283–84, 292–95

  Italy crisis, 316–17, 316–23

  mortgage-backed securities exposure, 129, 145, 159

  Northern Rock PLC crisis, 125–28

  Portugal crisis, 296–98

  remedies. See Bank of England; European Central Bank (ECB); International Monetary Fund (IMF)

  Spain crisis, 317–23

  time line for, xi–xvii

  worsening (2011–2012), 348–49, 354–55

  European Financial Stability Facility, 230, 320

  bank charter issue, 324, 326

  European Parliament, 77

  Eurozone. See also specific countries

  bank stress tests (2010), 287–88

  countries outside of, 77, 81–82, 291

  creditor nations, 297, 301–2

  debtor nations, 213–14, 301

  debtor problems, differences in, 213–14, 302, 315

  depression, countries in, 292, 303, 341, 389

  economic unity, necessity of, 78–80, 212–13

  Franco-German Declaration, 289–92

  GIPSI nations, 213–14

  imbalances, remedies for, 302–3

  leadership changes by 2012, 294–96, 341–42, 348, 356

  monetary policy decisions. See European Central Bank (ECB)

  PIIGS nations, 213

  political fissures, 289–92, 297, 304–5

  private-sector involvement, 312–16

  recession (2012), 354–55

  U.S. economic functioning compared to, 78–80

  Evans, Charles, 264, 275

  economic actions advocated by, 337–38, 386–87

  Exchange rate mechanism

  British pound devaluation (1992), 72–73

  exit of countries from, 74

  Exchequer, chancellors. See Darling, Alistair; Osborne, George

  Exit strategy, 259, 261

  Fallon, Kieran, 140

  Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac

  conservatorship for, 141, 163

  QE1 mortgage-backed securities purchases, 263

  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 77–78

  Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)

  attendees of, 118

  housing bubble, central bankers fears (2005), 104–7

  meetings, structure of, 119

  quantitative easing (QE2), 254–55, 274–76

  Teal Book, 262, 330

  Federal Reserve

  Board of Governors, 44–45

  creation of, 35–36, 44–45

  decision-making body. See Federal Open Market Committee

  dissolution of charter (1928), 45

  and end of inflation of 1970s, 69–71

  establishment, difficulty of, 10–11

  on exit strategy, 259, 261

  Fed rules for journalists, 262–63

  and financial crisis (2007–2012). See Bernanke, Ben; Federal Reserve remedies

  past chairmen. See Burns, Arthur; Greenspan, Alan; Miller, G. William; Volcker, Paul

  and post–World War II prosperity, 10

  power, efforts to cut (2009), 169–76

  public trust established, 71

  reform after crisis. See U.S. financial reform

  trading operations of, 277–78

  Federal Reserve Act (1913), 45–46

  emergency 13(3) provision, 133–34

  Federal Reserve Bank (New York), 276–77

  Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Policy Symposium. See Jackson Hole conference

  Federal Reserve remedies

  Bernanke defends actions, 170–71, 176–77, 181–82

  cash infusions. See Bailouts

  Commercial Paper Funding Facility, 150–51

  currency swaps, 130, 153–55, 227, 229, 349–50

  European crisis interventions, 131–32, 153–55, 226–27, 229, 349–50

  Fannie/Freddie conservatorship, 141, 163

  Fed “try it all” approach, 149–51

  interest rate cuts (2007–), 128, 163

  interest rate hike (2014), 339

  Maturity Extension Program, 331–32, 340

  for money market funds, 150–51

  nominal GDP targeting as topic, 338–39

  Operation Twist, 331–32

  Operation Twist 2, 340

  quantitative easing (QE1), 263

  quantitative easing (QE2), 255–80

  Term Auction Facility (TAF), 131–32

  Federal Reserve Transparency Act, 175–76

  Feingold, Russell, 189

  Feinstein, Dianne, 191

  Feldman, Gerald D., 48

  Feldstein, Martin, 79–80, 117

  Felsenthal, Mark, 254

  Ferdinand, Franz, 48

  Ferguson, Roger, 99

  Financial accelerator, 7, 58, 119, 132

  Financial crises. See also European financial crises; U.S. financial crises

  central bank errors during. See Central bank ineffectiveness

  financial accelerator for, 7, 58, 119, 132

  Japanese deflation (1990s), 84–92

  Millennium Bridge analogy, 107–8

  public debt crisis, effects of, 202

  recessionary/inflationary. See Inflation; Recessions

  runs on banks. See Bank failures

  time line for, ix–xi

  of 2007–2012. See European financial crisis (2007–2012)
; U.S. financial crisis (2007–2012)

  Financial industry

  home mortgages, risky products, 99–100

  mortgage-backed securities as creation of, 101–2

  risk taking and rewards, 107

  Financial markets

  central bankers’ comments, impact on, 9

  decline (2001), 99

  Flash Crash, 218–19, 243

  global stock market decline (2009), 165

  stock market drop (2008), 145

  Financial reform. See U.S. financial reform

  Financial Services Authority, 122, 234, 238

  Financial Stability Board, 300

  Fine, Camden, 178, 190, 196

  Finland, anti-EU position, 297

  First Name Club meeting (1910), 35–36, 43–44

  Fischer, Stanley, 116

  Fisher, Paul, 241

  Fisher, Richard, 164, 187, 193, 196, 264, 275, 330, 332

  Fixed-rate tender with full allotment, 3–4

  Flaherty, Jim, 209

  Flash Crash, 218–19, 243

  Ford, Gerald, inflation, approach to, 67

  France

  central bank. See Banque de France

  -England adversarial relationship, 55, 57

  and European unity negotiations, 76–77, 81–82

  Franco-German Declaration, 289–92

  gold hoarding (1927–), 55, 58, 59

  Great Depression, stability during, 55, 58, 59

  inflation rate (1980s), 75

  presidents. See Hollande, François; Sarkozy, Nicolas

  steel and coal production pooling, 74–75

  Franco-German Declaration, 289–92

  Frank, Barney, 146, 170. See also Dodd-Frank Act

  Free Banking Era, U.S., 39

  Friedman, Stephen, 195

  Frum, David, 66

  Gang Fan, 372

  Geithner, Timothy

  and Bernanke reappointment, 182–83

  defends Fed actions during crisis, 177–78

  to ECB on bolder moves, 219, 226, 324

  and financial reform process, 177–78, 186–87

  on first day of crisis, 4, 5

  and investment bank bailouts, 42, 133, 140, 142, 146–47

  at Jackson Hole (2007), 111–12

  -Trichet relationship, 219, 317

  George, Edward, 7

  Germany

  bank crisis, beginning of (2008), 160

  Berlin Wall, end of, 76–77

  central bank. See Bundesbank

  chancellors. See Kohl, Helmut; Merkel, Angela

  coordinated plan, rejection of, 159–60

  economy (2012), 354, 356

  and European unity negotiations, 76–77, 81–82

  Franco-German Declaration, 289–92

  Great Depression, actions during, 57, 58–60

  Greek bailout protests, 210–11, 288–89

  Hitler rise and economic conditions, 50–53, 60

  inflation rate (1980s), 75

  mark as new currency (1923), 53

  mark exchange rate fixed (1923), 54

  post–World War I reparations, 49–50

  prosperity of 1920s, 54

  Reichsbank (1914–1918) caused hyperinflation, 47–53

  steel and coal production pooling, 74–75

  Wall Street crash (1929), impact on, 57, 58–60

  Gertler, Mark, 119

  Giles, Chris, 249

  Gingrich, Newt, 330

  GIPSI nations, 213, 217

  ECB bond purchases, 286–87

  Gladstone, William, 32

  Glass, Carter, 44–45

  Global economy

  emerging nations collapse (1990s), 101

  during Great Moderation, 94–95

  Global Economy Meeting (2010), 223–32

  Golden Dawn, 357–59, 378

  Gold standard

  abandoned during Great Depression, 60–61

  abandoned during Nixon administration, 62–64

  Bretton Woods (1944) gold window, 63

  post–World War I, 54–55

  Gonzalez, Henry B., 96

  Grayson, Alan, 186

  Great Britain

  bank regulation. See Financial Services Authority

  Black Friday (1866), 10, 26, 28

  central bank. See Bank of England

  empire, connection to banks, 10, 28–31

  -France adversarial relationship, 55, 57

  Great Depression, actions during, 60

  during Great Moderation, 94

  housing price increase (2005), 100

  outside the eurozone, 77, 81–82, 291

  Great Britain financial crisis, 236–46, 332–36

  and Conservative Party victory, 244

  deficit reduction, 237–38, 241–49

  eurozone impact on, 333

  inflation (2010–2011), 245, 251–52, 334

  remedies. See Bank of England; King, Mervyn

  stagflation (2010–2011), 251–53, 334

  unemployment (2009–2011), 236, 248, 251, 334

  worsening (2011–2012), 387–88

  Great Depression

  bailout (1929), 56

  Bernanke as scholar of, 7–8, 119–20, 149–50

  as central banking failure, 11, 60–61, 84–85, 132

  Federal Reserve actions during, 56, 58

  gold standard abandoned, 60

  moralistic view of, 56–57

  and Wall Street crash (1929), 54, 56–58

  Great Inflation. See Inflation (1971–1979)

  Great Moderation, 94–95, 98–99, 106–7

  criteria, Jackson Hole Consensus on, 98

  trouble, signs during, 104–7

  Greece

  central bank. See Bank of Greece

  as eurozone member, 203

  inflation (2000s), 203–4

  Greece financial crisis, 201–23, 285–91, 306–16

  bailouts (2010–2011), 215–19, 286–89, 310–11

  budget deficit (2009), 201–2

  causes of, 204–5

  coalition government (2012), 356–58

  debt restructuring (2011), 312–16

  deficit reduction, 209–10, 215–16, 286, 287, 297, 302, 353–54

  deficit reduction failure, 297, 308–9

  ECB vague statement on, 212–13

  euro, referendum on keeping, 343, 345, 357

  German resentment of bailout, 210–12, 288–89

  global impact of, 208, 213–14, 217–19

  Greek borrowing costs (2010), 213, 215, 217

  IMF involvement, 205–6, 211–12, 215–17, 285–86

  Papandreou statement of need, 215, 306

  and political fissures, 341–42, 354

  privatization (2011), 309–16

  public protests, 210, 217, 284, 285–86, 297, 306, 311, 354, 358–59, 378

  quarterly monitoring meetings, 216, 285–86, 297

  Trichet’s approach to, 206–8, 211–12, 218–19, 222–23

  “troika” of interventionists, 285–86, 297

  worsening (2011), 306, 311–12

  Greenspan, Alan

  end of tenure of, 93–94

  on housing bubble, 104

  interest rate cuts, 99

  legacy of, 94

  on low-risk premiums, 107

  recessions during tenure, 95, 99

  Gregg, Judd, 191

  Groupe de Francfort, 326, 345

  Group of 20 meeting (2010), 257, 273–74

  Group of 20 meeting (2011), 344–47

  Group of Seven meeting (2010), 207–8

  Guf
fey, Roger, 95–96

  Gurney, Samuel, 26–27

  Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden, 19

  Hamilton, Alexander, 36–37

  Hamlin, Charles S., 57

  Hankey, Thomson, 34

  Hansen, George, 71

  Harris, Ethan, 265

  Harrison, George L., 56

  Harvey, Ernest, 60

  Havenstein, Rudolf von, 221

  and post–World War I hyperinflation, 47–53

  Hayami, Masaru

  background information, 89

  and Japanese financial crisis (1990s), 87–88, 90–92

  Heinze, F. Augustus, 40–41

  Heinze, Otto, 40–41

  Heline, Oscar, 61

  Hemingway, Ernest, 51

  Hildebrand, Philipp, 161

  Hilsenrath, Jon, 262

  Hitler, Adolf, rise of, economic factors in, 11, 52–53, 60

  Hoenig, Thomas M.

  QE2, objection to, 256, 258, 264, 265, 271, 275–76

  U.S. financial reform position, 179–80, 187, 195–96, 199

  Holland, Henry Lancelot, 32–33

  Hollande, François, initial actions as president, 356

  Home mortgages

  easy-term products, 99–100

  as investment device. See Mortgage-backed securities

  risk related to, 102

  Hoover, Herbert, 58

  House Committee on Financial Services, 169–71

  Household debt, increase in (2005), 100–101

  Housing prices

  central bankers fears (2005), 104–8

  end of boom, signs of, 106

  housing price increase (2005), 99–100, 103–4

  Japan, price run-up (1990s), 85–86

  Hubbard, Glenn, 117

  Hu Jintao, 347, 363

  Hurley, John, 158

  Hutchinson, Kay Bailey, 196, 198–99

  Hyun Song Shin, 107–8, 129

  Iceland financial crisis, 284

  Ichimada, Hisato, 86

  Independent Community Bankers of America, 178–79, 196

  Inflation

  European countries, varying rates of, 75

  German hyperinflation (1914–1918), 47–53

  German hyperinflation, pre–Nazi era, 11, 50–53

  Great Britain (2010–2011), 245, 251–52, 334

  Greece (2000s), 203–4

  low, negative effects, 260, 270

  low U.S. levels (2010), 260

  price increases, self-perpetuation of, 65–66, 134–35

  Stockholms Banco creation of, 22–23

  United States 1970’s. See Inflation (1971–1979)

  Inflation (1971–1979), 62–71

  Carter-era actions, 67–71

  central bank ineffectiveness, 65–67

  Ford era actions, 67

  gold standard abandoned, 62–64

  money supply/interest rate increase as remedy, 69–71

 

‹ Prev