Analyzing the Federal Reserve

Winter/spring schedule of lectures

The Federal Reserve has said it will continue buying bonds until there’s substantial improvement in the U.S. labor markets.  Furman economist Bruce Brown will talk about whether that’s a good idea when he delivers the High Noon lecture Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the Upcountry History Museum/Furman.

His talk, “The Fed’s ‘New’ Unemployment Target and the Federal Debt,” begins at noon.

In December the Fed announced it will keep interest rates low as long as the unemployment rate stays above 6.5% and inflation stays below 2.5%. The Fed keeps interest rates low by buying U.S. Treasury and Treasury Agency securities, which is financing much of the current deficit.  Is this good policy, dangerous policy—or good and dangerous policy?

The winter/spring schedule consists of eight noon lectures on Wednesdays that will run consecutively through March 13. The lectures are free, and people are welcome to bring their lunch to the talks.

The Upcountry History Museum/Furman University is located at 540 Buncombe Street on Heritage Green in downtown Greenville.

For more information, contact Furman’s Marketing and Public Relations office at 864-294-2185 or e-mail Marie Newman-Rogers at marie.newman-rogers@furman.edu.