To: THE ANT who wrote (151432 ) 10/27/2019 2:17:09 PM From: philv Respond to of 218621 Bernanke raised the issue of helicopter money a few years ago. excerpt from: fortune.com "Helicopter money, however, could finance government spending—or a tax cut—without relying on the banks increasing their lending, and without increasing government debt. But it is difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Federal Reserve could institute a “helicopter drop” of money without coordination with Congress. Sure, the Fed could credit the Treasury Department with extra dollars, but Congress would have to decide how to spend it. The first concern economists who study central banks have with such a program is that this sort of coordination with Congress could undermine the independence of the Federal Reserve, and turn the central bank into an institution that is run by elected officials. Bernanke shares these concerns but the former Fed Chair does foresee a scenario in which the Fed finances tax cuts or government spending. He writes: A possible arrangement, set up in advance, might work as follows: Ask Congress to create, by statute, a special Treasury account at the Fed, and to give the Fed . . . the sole authority to “fill” the account, perhaps up to some prespecified limit. At almost all times, the account would be empty; the Fed would use its authority to add funds to the account only when the [Fed] assessed that a [helicopter drop] of specified size was needed to achieve the Fed’s employment and inflation goals. Should the Fed act, under this proposal, the next step would be for the Congress and the Administration—through the usual, but possibly expedited, legislative process—to determine how to spend the funds (for example, on a tax rebate or on public works). Importantly, the Congress and Administration would have the option to leave the funds unspent. If the funds were not used within a specified time, the Fed would be empowered to withdraw them. etc. etc. ......