Selected Issues on the Federal Reserve &

The seminar will offer an insider perspective on current Federal Reserve issues and detail the various interconnections between the Fed and financial markets.  The course will examine and compare the extraordinary policy actions of the Fed in response to recent crises: the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, the pandemic financial stress of 2020, and the banking crisis of March 2023.  In addition, the seminar will study the evolution of the Fed’s monetary policy framework, including specifics on the Fed’s market transactions. It will also explore key concepts of the financial system that are relevant to the central bank and fundamental to financial stability.   

Other topical issues relevant to the Federal Reserve will also be discussed. For the Fall 2024 semester, current issues include the shifting outlook for the Fed’s monetary policy, central bank independence and the politicization of the Fed, the escalating focus on the potential for central banks to issue digital currencies, and other emerging topics.

Given the short duration of the seminar, attendance from the first week is required, and students who miss the first week will not be admitted to the course.