1st Edition

A History of Macroeconomic Policy in the United States

By John H. Wood Copyright 2009
    240 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    240 Pages 9 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Keynes asked whether his ‘visionary’ ideas would overcome the interests opposed to change. However, an examination of the histories of monetary and fiscal policies suggests that this is a false distinction. The interests and ideas associated with government policies are seldom opposed. The suspicion that the latter more often follows than confronts the former is supported by the experiences documented in this book.

    Professor Wood’s new title examines the controlling influences that drive macroeconomic policies in the United States. The book addresses the history of the interests, ideas, and practices of monetary and fiscal policies in the U.S., although it also examines macro-policies in other countries, particularly the UK. Professor Wood argues that economic policies in the United States have been relatively predictable and stable historically, through a detailed examination of conflicts over taxes and monetary policy such as the whiskey rebellion, Magna Carta, the Stamp Act, the Banks of the U.S., and the Federal Reserve. Issues covered also include property, economists’ theories of stabilization, taxes, deficits, and monetary policy.

    Introduction  Part I. Fiscal Policy  1.  Interests: A history of tax conflicts  2.  Ideas: Theories of stabilization policy  3.   Practice: The stability of federal government deficits Part II: Monetary Policy  4.  The Interests and Institutions of Monetary Policy  5. Knowledge, Advice, and Monetary Policy  6.  The Stability of Monetary Policy: The Federal Reserve  Part III: Conclusion  7. It’s interests after all

    Biography

    John H. Wood

    "This book examines the motivations behind fiscal and monetary policies in the US from the earliest days of the republic. … This book is well written and not overly technical." -- CHOICE (Aug 2009, Vol. 46); R. Grossman, Wesleyan University.