Feature: What Is: Macroeconomics in America

Lessons in American Macroeconomics.

Columnists

Articles in this feature

Subscribe to feature RSS

• What Is: EURIBOR

  As Europe's Central Bank looks to cut rate targets into 2013, all eyes turn to the key reference rate for the continent's major banks.

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Feb 02, 2013

• What Is: Inelastic Demand

  As millions of Americans continue looking for work, corporate America is in no hurry to hire and unemployment lingers on.

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Nov 20, 2012

• What Is: High Frequency Trading?

  Trading at the speed of light seems like a sure fire way to beat the street, but should we let computers do all the driving?

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Oct 15, 2012

• What Is: LIBOR?

  LIBOR is the world's de facto benchmark for interbank interest rates, but does the recent rate fixing scandal cast too many shadows of doubt?

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Sep 30, 2012

• What Is: Liquidity Risk?

  How to solve the hedge problem of selling something that no one in the market wants to buy.

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Sep 30, 2012

• What Is: The Interbank Lending Market?

  Interbank lending is a key aspect of a modern financial system, but is the practice of banks borrowing every day with no collateral good for the economy?

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Sep 26, 2012

• What Is: The Federal Funds Rate?

  The Federal Funds Rate is the benchmark interest rate for the American banking system and a key component of the FED's monetary policy.

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Sep 21, 2012

• What Is: An Open Market Operation?

  Open market operations are a central bank's primary tool for managing the money supply and either stimulating or restraining growth.

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Sep 20, 2012

• What Is: Quantitative Easing?

  One of a central bank's most powerful and dangerous policy tools for combating the negative impacts of recession.

  Opinion by Alexander J Smith III — on Sep 18, 2012