preview

The Age Of Turbulence By Alan Greenspan Sheds Light On

Decent Essays

The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan sheds light on Greenspan 's time as the chairman of the Federal Reserve as well as the present and future United States economy. Greenspan’s involvement in public life started with Richard Nixon’s campaign in 1967. He then went on to spend eighteen years serving as the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush from 1987 to 2006. In his memoir he teaches readers what the Federal Reserve is, what their duties are, the history of the United States economy, and what may happen to the economy in the future.
Congress created the Federal Reserve in 1913. Although the president appoints the chairman of the Fed, it is a separate …show more content…

Ultimately, the Fed’s job is to stimulate a healthy economy and help it grow. Their goal is to keep a strong dollar as well as monitor and or moderate interest rates to create more investment opportunities, thus further stimulating the economy.
When the Federal Reserve Board sets interest rates, it affects the entire economy. When the economy is doing well, the Feds may implement monetary tightening (raising interest rates) in order to “slow down” the economy. The opposite is also true: the Fed’s may implement monetary easing (lowering interest rates) in order to stimulate the economy and help it grow. What happens when the Fed raises interest rates? When the Feds implement monetary policy, the only true direct effect is the fact that it is more expensive for banks to borrow money from the Fed. The increase in the federal funds rate causes a ripple effect. Increased interest rates can have an impact on the stock market as well. Generally speaking, stocks perform poorly when the Feds increase interest rates. This is because a higher interest rate creates a lower demand for stocks, causing stock prices to fall. The reverse is also true; a lower interest rates creates a higher demand for stocks, causing stock prices to rise.
In his memoir, Alan Greenspan explains the biggest events in recent U.S. history that shaped the American economy. One of the most significant events in history that has shaped our current

Get Access