Alternative Visions

Alternative Visions - The Great Contradiction - 07.14.17


Listen Later

Dr. Rasmus explains how the advanced capitalist economies—US, UK, Europe, Japan—have made monetary policy and their central banks the ‘only game in town’ since 2008, and provided more than $20 trillion in virtually free money to their capitalist banking systems, in effect creating a permanent subsidization of the banks since 2008. Now the Fed and other central banks are attempting to reduce the free money a little by raising interest rates and selling off their $15 trillion plus balance sheets of accumulated prior bank bailouts. Rasmus argues that having continued too long with too low rates (8 years), central banks now face a ‘grand contradiction’: they cannot raise rates or sell off very much without precipitating another crisis. He predicts a 2% federal funds rate and 3% 10 year Treasury bond rate are likely the limits. That means central banks’ solution to the last crisis, and the permanent subsidization of the banks since 2008, has created the conditions for the next crisis. Rasmus explains how and why this permanent subsidization of the banks regime has come about, including the takeover of the central banks, and their governments’ economic institutions, by the big banks themselves. Goldman Sachs now runs US economic policy from the Treasury to the Fed (and Cohn will soon replace Yellen). Rasmus challenges Yellen’s view that falling US prices are ‘transitory’ and will soon rise, and the US economy is strong, despite collapsing bank lending, government tax revenues, and stagnant prices and real wages.
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Alternative VisionsBy Progressive Radio Network

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

25 ratings


More shows like Alternative Visions

View all
Behind the News with Doug Henwood by Doug Henwood

Behind the News with Doug Henwood

479 Listeners

Democracy Now! Audio by Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Audio

5,663 Listeners

CounterSpin by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting

CounterSpin

491 Listeners

KPFA - Letters and Politics by KPFA

KPFA - Letters and Politics

259 Listeners

The Tennis Podcast by David Law, Catherine Whitaker, Matt Roberts

The Tennis Podcast

1,294 Listeners

Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

Jacobin Radio

1,399 Listeners

Ralph Nader Radio Hour by Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

1,172 Listeners

Geopolitics & Empire by Geopolitics & Empire

Geopolitics & Empire

486 Listeners

The Katie Halper Show by Katie Halper

The Katie Halper Show

1,466 Listeners

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff by Democracy at Work - Richard D. Wolff

Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

1,947 Listeners

Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer by Civic Ventures

Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

1,483 Listeners

MOATS with George Galloway by Molucca Media Ltd

MOATS with George Galloway

115 Listeners

Geopolitical Economy Report by Ben Norton

Geopolitical Economy Report

281 Listeners

The Grayzone podcast with Max Blumenthal by Max Blumenthal

The Grayzone podcast with Max Blumenthal

267 Listeners

The Chris Hedges Report by Chris Hedges

The Chris Hedges Report

222 Listeners