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Fed Policy, Inequality, and Equality of Opportunity

Stiglitz, Joseph E.

Many are concerned that America has not been doing well in either equality of outcomes or opportunity. Our nation has obtained the dubious distinction of being the country among advanced countries with the highest level of inequality of outcomes and one of the lowest levels of equality of opportunity. This paper discusses the issue of inequality and inequality of opportunity, how Federal Reserve policies affect inequality, and what implications inequality should have for the conduct of Fed policy. I shall address both its role in macroeconomic management and in the regulation of financial markets. After a brief review of the state of inequality in the United States today, I will discuss the various channels through which the Federal Reserve affects inequality.

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Also Published In

Title
Economic Mobility: Research & Ideas on Strengthening Families, Communities & the Economy
Publisher
The Roosevelt Institute

More About This Work

Academic Units
Economics
Published Here
February 5, 2019

Notes

Presented at the Ninth Biennial Federal Reserve System Community Development Research Conference, April 2015.