“The impact of QE on generating more lending by Wall Street to Main Street and in generating more employment and increasing overall investment in the economy is quite modest. QE probably limited the initial collapse of the economy in 2008, and likely had a very small positive impact on economic growth, but its broader impact on jobs and growth in the economy seems not very big.” BigsSeemsJobsGrowthEconomyEconomicStreetsWallImpactInvestmentEmploymentCollapseModestInitialsEconomic GrowthLendingPositive ImpactMain Street Author:Gerald Epstein
“Initially, QE contributed to a pretty significant increase in inequality. It raised asset prices, which are owned primarily by the wealthy, while having relatively small if any positive impacts on bank lending, employment, wages or economic growth, so ordinary people haven't had much help. By the third round of QE in 2012-2014, the effects had likely muted quite a bit. There were probably not big impacts on asset prices from QE and the positive effects on employment growth might have strengthened somewhat.” PeopleIfsHelpingBigsMightBitsGrowthEconomicEffectsHavensOrdinaryThirdsIncreaseImpactRaisedRoundsSignificantEmploymentInequalityWealthyAssetsWagesOrdinary PeopleEconomic GrowthLendingPositive ImpactHaving StrengthBig Impact Author:Gerald Epstein
“Increases in interest rates normally worsen inequality, at least partly by reducing employment and wage growth.” GrowthInterestIncreaseRateEmploymentInequalityReducingInterest Rate Author:Gerald Epstein