Money and Banks

The Greek debt crisis is often framed as a matter of Greek debtors against German creditors. But it’s really a matter of Greek and German taxpayers being exploited by their own governments which are promising to pay debts with other people’s money.

Our method of calculating GDP growth is hopelessly flawed, and is more likely determined largely by the growth of the money supply in the economy. So as the Fed pumps more, the economy appears to grow also.

It was another volatile week for stocks, Canada slipped into recession, and we’re left wondering if central banks will let interest rates rise in the face of a weakened global economy.

College towns like Auburn, Alabama are booming with more luxury apartments and seemingly more of everything else, too. But the story really began far away in Washington, DC where the Federal Reserve targets interest rates.

China has recently devalued its currency. Like many governments, the Chinese government thinks this will help the economy by increasing exports. But it will really just destroy real wealth in the process.

Governments have long hated physical cash because it allows for untraceable purchases. But a bigger problem for governments is the fact that holders of cash can signal a lack of trust in central banks by removing all their cash from the financial system.

Consumer prices have been stable, but we should pay attention to 2014's decline in the money supply which mirrors a similar decline from 1927 and 1928, which was followed by a collapse in industrial production.

Malavika Nair explains the origins of money.

Interviewed by host Paul Molloy, Mark Thornton discusses the consequences of having a minimum salary of $70,000. They also discuss the negative impact of the minimum wage, and how fair wage rates are determined by the market.