Tags
Financial Systemic Issues: Booms and Busts - Central Banking and Money - Corporate Governance - Cryptocurrencies - Government and Bureaucracy - Inflation - Long-term Economics - Risk and Uncertainty - Retirement Finance
Financial Markets: Banking - Banking Politics - Housing Finance - Municipal Finance - Sovereign Debt - Student Loans
Categories
Blogs - Books - Op-eds - Letters to the editor - Policy papers and research - Testimony to Congress - Podcasts - Event videos - Media quotes - Poetry
Podcast: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Wins in Supreme Court But Can the Fed Continue to Fund the CFPB Without Earnings?
Published by Ballard Spahr. Also in JD SUPRA,
Special guest Alex J. Pollock, Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute and former Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Financial Research in the U.S. Treasury Department, joins us to discuss his recent blog post published on The Federalist Society website in which he urges Congress to look into the question of whether the Federal Reserve can lawfully continue to fund the CFPB if (as now) the Fed has no earnings. We begin with a review of the Supreme Court’s recent decision in CFSA v. CFPB which held that the CFPB’s funding mechanism does not violate the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Alex follows with an explanation of the CFPB’s statutory funding mechanism as established by the Dodd-Frank Act, which provides that the CFPB is to be funded from the Federal Reserve System’s earnings. Then Alex discusses the Fed’s recent financial statements and their use of non-standard accounting, the source of the Fed’s losses, whether Congress when writing Dodd-Frank considered the impact of Fed losses on the CFPB’s funding, and how the Fed can return to profitability. We conclude the episode by responding to arguments made by observers as to why the Fed’s current losses do not prevent its continued funding of the CFPB, potential remedies if the CFPB has been unlawfully funded by the Fed, and the bill introduced in Congress to clarify the statutory language regarding the CFPB’s funding.
Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel in Ballard Spahr’s Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts the conversation.
Alex’s blog post, "The Fed Has No Earnings to Send to the CFPB," can be found here.
From Inflation to Power Shifts: Alex J. Pollock’s Eye-Opening Dive into Political Finance
Published in Million Dollar Book Agency:
Today’s episode was an absolute game-changer. We had the privilege of diving deep into the world of finance with none other than the incredible Alex J. Pollock. This man has been in the banking game since 1969, and trust me, he’s got some eye-opening insights to share. Buckle up, folks, because we’re about to uncover the hidden truths behind the Federal Reserve, perpetual debt, and the secrets of our monetary system.
SUMMARY
Ever felt like there’s an invisible tax on your hard-earned money? Alex dropped a truth bomb on us – continuous inflation is exactly that. It’s a sneaky tax on anyone holding money, including those with savings accounts. How does this work? When the interest rates on savings are suppressed, wealth is transferred from money holders to the government. The fiat system allows the government to finance deficits indefinitely, making it a subtle yet effective way of expropriating purchasing power.
Hold on tight because this revelation might just blow your mind. Alex simplified the concept of perpetual debt with a powerful analogy. Imagine a banking system that lends you $100 but demands $110 in return. Where does that extra $10 come from? The Federal Reserve. This perpetuates a cycle of constant debt, creating what can only be described as a modern-day slavery system. The Federal Reserve creates a debt-ridden society by injecting money into the system.
Alex emphasized a crucial point – there’s no such thing as pure finance; there’s only political finance. The shift from the gold standard in 1971 marked a pivotal moment in our monetary history. With the introduction of a fiat system, there are no limits on how big a government deficit can be. This translates to an increase in government power. As you monetize and free up money, the government gains the financial resources to expand its reach and control.
Mike Fallat and Alex J. Pollock talk about the book Finance and Philosophy: Why We’re Always Surprised.
Let’s talk about inflation, the silent wealth eroder. While some may cheer at a seemingly low 3% inflation rate, Alex breaks down the reality. Over a lifetime, a 3% inflation rate results in prices going up 10 times! Imagine the impact of a 4% inflation rate – prices skyrocketing 23 times. It’s not just a tax without legislation; it’s a constant expansion of government power through the central bank, all cleverly disguised.
Alex shared two must-reads for anyone looking to unravel the mysteries of finance. First up, Frank Knight’s book is a treasure trove of insights. But that’s not all; he also recommended “The Fourth Branch” by Bernard Shull. This gem provides a historical perspective on the Federal Reserve’s unlikely rise to power. Both books promise to be eye-openers for those eager to understand the intricacies of our financial system.
As we wrapped up the episode, Alex left us with a powerful notion – there’s no such thing as pure economy, only political economy. The fiat currency system, though clever, is also insidious. It not only inflates the currency but also empowers the government at the cost of the people. This conversation with Alex J. Pollock was nothing short of mind-blowing. We’ve scratched the surface today, but there’s more wisdom to uncover.
Insider Perspectives- Alex J. Pollock Unveils the Intricacies of Housing Markets
Published by the Hartman Media Company:
Jason talks about the resilient real estate market as the cost of money decreases and housing affordability improves. With mortgage rates dropping and the promise of increased affordability by the Fed, he anticipates significant price increases in the low-inventory market. Highlighting the 700,000-home deficit compared to normal inventory, Jason emphasizes the simple supply and demand dynamics driving potential price surges. He also urges viewers to consider the upcoming cruise for a unique learning and networking experience. Overall, the episode provides insights into the current real estate landscape, emphasizing the market's strength and predicting positive trends. Then Jason interviews Alex J. Pollock from the Mises Institute. The discussion revolves around the unpredictability of financial markets, particularly in contrast to more deterministic fields like astronomy. Pollock argues that economic and financial forecasts, even by prominent figures like central bankers, often prove inaccurate due to the interactive and recursive nature of human ideas, intents, and strategies within these systems. The conversation delves into the challenges of predicting economic and financial futures and emphasizes the significance of relying on self-corrective market properties rather than central authorities.
The Illusion of Control: Unmasking the Federal Reserve with Alex J. Pollock
Hosted by The Rational Egoist.
In this compelling episode of "The Rational Egoist," host Michael Leibowitz sits down with Alex J. Pollock, a senior fellow at The Mises Institute and former Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Financial Research in the U.S. Treasury Dept. Together, they delve into the fascinating yet fraught world of the Federal Reserve, an institution often misconceived as a central economic manager.
The Federal Reserve, in its simplest form, comprises 12 regional banks attempting to regulate the U.S. economy. Its original mandate was to inject liquidity into the financial system during times of crisis. However, as Michael and Alex point out, the persistent and unrestrained expansion of money supply even after crises have been resolved has converted this mechanism into an ongoing problem, rather than a solution.
The conversation takes a historical turn when they discuss the U.S. government's suppression of the gold standard and its unilateral ban on citizens owning gold. Remarkably, while American civilians were barred from gold ownership, the U.S. government continued to accumulate large reserves of gold by purchasing it overseas.But the real kicker comes when our experts examine the ramifications of divorcing the U.S. dollar from gold in 1971. This shift has led to a monetary system with virtually no constraints on the amount of currency that can be printed, setting the stage for escalating inflation and subsequently, complex political challenges.
Despite its numerous failings, the power of the Federal Reserve continues to grow, becoming increasingly centralised. The paradox is as disconcerting as it is true: the more mistakes the Federal Reserve makes, the more potent it becomes.
Join Michael and Alex as they unravel these complicated threads, offering keen insights into an institution whose influence stretches far and wide but whose true impact remains poorly understood. This episode is not just an analysis but a cautionary tale, highlighting the perils of placing too much power in the hands of a single entity.
WKXL: Facing The Future: Will We Learn the Necessary Lessons from Past Economic Crises?
Published in WKXL:
This week on Facing the Future, we revisit a conversation from earlier this year with Alex Pollock and Howard Adler, authors of a new book entitled “Surprised Again: The COVID Crisis and the New Market Bubble.” The book examines the recent economic crises, including the COVID related economic shutdown and the Great Recession of 2008-10, and asks why these types of events always seem to take us by surprise.
Though inflation has come down somewhat from its peak in the last year, it is still a problem for our economy, brought about in large part by the federal government’s responses to the two most recent economic crises. Not to mention the trillions of dollars these crisis responses added to our national debt.
Fed Watch Podcast: The Fed Is Insolvent, and That's a Bad Thing
From the Mises Institute:
On this first episode of the Fed Watch Podcast, Ryan McMaken and Senior Fellow Alex Pollock talk about how the Federal Reserve has negative cash flow. The Fed will print money to "solve" the problem.
Be sure to follow the Fed Watch Podcast at Mises.org/FedPod.
Recommended Reading
"The Fed’s Capital Goes Negative" by Alex J. Pollock: Mises.org/FW_01_A
"Who Owns Federal Reserve Losses and How Will They Impact Monetary Policy?" by Alex J. Pollock and Paul H. Kupiec: Mises.org/FW_01_B
"Why the Fed Is Bankrupt and Why That Means More Inflation" by Ryan McMaken: Mises.org/FW_01_C
Chicago’s Morning Answer: Mises Institute's Alex Pollock talks latest finance news
Published by Chicago’s Morning Answer:
The Bill Walton Show: "Are We Really Surprised We're Having Another Banking Crisis?" with Alex Pollock and Steve Dewey
Published by Bill Walton.
It looks like the bill is finally coming due after decades of reckless monetary policy and out of control federal spending. After 40 years of relatively stable prices, we now have raging inflation. Interest rates have risen dramatically. Mortgage rates have more than doubled. And commercial banks are now sitting on more than $600 billion of unrealized bond losses.
Of course, and as expected, with the Silicon Valley Bank bailout, the Regulators have pulled out their default playbook declaring yet another institution systematically risky, taking another step toward the federalization of our banking system.
But there's also something new to worry about: regulatory mission drift. The Fed's historical mandates are to 1) promote price stability and 2) full employment and a safe and sound banking system. But instead, the Fed - and the Treasury - have changed their priorities to promote the progressive policies of climate change and equity.
Joining me to talk all this through are Alex Pollock and Steve Dewey. Both are grizzled veterans of the banking and regulatory world, which, as Alex points out, has been hit by a major crisis every decade since the 1970s. Together we have many decades of experience in financial markets. Alex and I have been conversing with each other, and interrupting each other, for almost fifty years.
Alex is a Senior Fellow at the Mises Institute and was Principal Deputy Director of the Office of Financial Research of the U.S. Treasury Department in 2019 and through 2021. He was also my second boss in the commercial banking world almost 45 years ago and was on my board at Allied Capital Corporation as we worked through the 2008 crisis and its aftermath.
Steve Dewey worked for several years in Asia during the Asian financial crisis and for the FDIC during and after the 2008 financial crisis where he was involved in the resolution of failed banks.
According to Alex,
“We are still living in the aftermath of the long manipulation of interest rates and financial markets by the Federal Reserve and the club of central banks worldwide: the vast expansion of money and suppression of interest rates to an abnormally low level. Now we’re seeing the results.”
Meantime, rather than being the above-the-fray dispassionate wise actor, the Federal Reserve has become part of the problem: Just in the last six months, the Fed itself lost $44 billion which exceeds its capital of $42 billion. A big portion of its $8.7 trillion in assets are highly vulnerable to rising interest rates. Ironically, the Fed’s interest rate risk is similar to SVB’s.
So, what’s going to happen next?
The Fed and the Treasury seem likely to take more control in the name of risk management. The banking system holds $17 trillion of deposits and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently declared that these would be de facto insured by the Treasury, the Fed and the FDIC.
But consider this: the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund is $128 billion, which is - putting it mildly - a little short of $17 trillion. Also, if the Fed continues losing money on its mortgage-backed securities, it will be losing over $100 billion a year.
Republican Senator Everett Dirksen, the Minority leader during the 1960s Kennedy-Johnson years, once said “a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon we’re talking real money.” Now we’re talking trillions. Has the banking system become to big to save?
Will the “solution” be a nationalized bank and a digital currency to prevent a collapse of the system? Or something else? How do the woke climate and equity agendas figure into this?
There’s a lot to speculate about here. Join in our conversation for our take on the crisis.
As always, we try to make complicated things easier to understand and nothing right now seems more complicated than our money.
How FedGov Destroyed the Housing Market
This podcast is published by the Mises Institute.
There is no real housing market in the US. Instead, an unholy trinity of Fannie/Freddie, the US Treasury, and the Federal Reserve Bank operate to distort the market at every turn and drive home prices up dramatically. Mises Institute Senior Fellow Alex Pollock, an economist and former mortgage banker, joins Jeff to describe the reality few Americans know.
Alex Pollock's new book Surprised Again: The Covid Crisis and the New Market Bubble : Mises.org/HAP377a
Alex Pollock on how the Fed became the world's biggest S&L: Mises.org/HAP377b
Freedom Adventure Podcast 471: Volker and the Great Inflation
Published by Freedom Adventure. Click here to listen.
Alex J. Pollock discusses Paul Volker and the great inflation and the similarities to today. Volker raised interest rates to an all time high and defeated run away inflation. His predecessor Arthur Burns anguished over inflation and central bankers are facing a similar anguish today. We discuss the knowledge problem and how central planners are a menace to society.
Wisco Weekly Podcast: MMT...RIP (Market Booms & Busts, Austrian Economics) with Alex Pollock
Episode #201 features Alex J. Pollock.
Listen on: Spotify, Apple, Google, Amazon.
Alex J. Pollock is a student of financial systems. His work includes cycles of booms and busts, financial crises with their political responses, housing finance, government-sponsored enterprises, risk and uncertainty, central banking, banking and financial regulation, corporate governance, retirement finance, student loans, and the politics of finance.
Pre-order Alex Pollock's upcoming book Surprised Again!: The COVID Crisis and the New Market Bubble.
The Economics Review Podcast: Ep. 36 - Alex J. Pollock
Alex J. Pollock is a Senior Fellow with the Mises Institute, previously the Distinguished Senior Fellow at the R. Street Institute, and the former Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Financial Research. He is also the former President and CEO of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Holding advanced degrees from the University of Chicago, and Princeton University, he is the author of the legendary book, Finance and Philosophy: Why We’re Always Surprised.
Click here to listen.
Since 2008, Monetary Policy Has Cost American Savers about $4 Trillion
Posted in Audio Mises Wire.
After thirteen years with on average negative real returns to conservative savings, it is time to require the Federal Reserve to address its impact on savers.
Click here to listen.
The unstable stability council
From American Banker’s Bankshot Podcast:
R Street’s Alex Pollock appears on the most recent Bankshot Podcast. At first the Financial Stability Oversight Council wanted to target individual nonbanks that pose a risk to the economy. Now it wants to target activities rather than firms. Is that a good idea or a political ploy?
Click here to listen to the pull podcast.
Is the Fed Broke? — Grant’s Interest Rate Observer Podcast w/Alex Pollock Ep. 75
Alex J. Pollock, distinguished senior fellow at the R Street Institute in Washington and former president of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, calls in to discuss the state of our central bank’s own finances. @RSI @FHLBC
3:07 Unrealized losses and the printing press
6:27 Treasury issuance and the Fed
9:45 Negative capital. Does it matter?
15:55 Partially paid-in capital; echoes of the banking partnerships of old
Subscribe to the Grant’s Current Yield Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, iHeart Radio, Google Play Music or listen from our website, www.grantspub.com
R Street’s Pollock on jumpstart legislation, capital reserves for SIFIs
Hosted by Investors Unite.
The podcast summarizes how to have realistic, fundamental reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This requires having them pay a fair price for the de facto guarantee from the taxpayers on which they are utterly dependent, officially designating them as Systemically Important Financial Institutions (SIFIs) which they obviously are, and having Treasury exercise its warrants for 79.9% of their common stock. Given those three steps, when Fannie and Freddie reach the 10% Moment, which means economically they will have paid the Treasury a full 10% rate of return plus enough cash to retire the Treasury’s Senior Preferred Stock at par, Treasury should consider their Senior Preferred Stock retired. Then Fannie and Freddie could begin to accumulate retained earnings and begin building their capital in a sound and reformed context.