naked capitalism Mon 2009-12-28 14:50 EST
A look back at the debate on the role of monetary and fiscal stimulus in depression
...regarding stimulus and the role of government in a debt-deflationary environment...does fiscal or monetary stimulus work?...the real debate about whether or not to try fiscal stimulus revolves around the role of government and its limitations. Ideologues on one side see government as a parasite which interferes with the free market. On the other side, ideologues see government as the only way out of a crisis of this magnitude. The key sticking point is not just the size of government, but also its effectiveness -- the political will to effect change rather than to favor constituents...So, how has this worked out in practice? Not so well.
Debate; Depression; fiscal stimulus; looking; Monetary; naked capitalism; role.