10.08.2014

Reflective Practice and Professional Development

Print Less but Transfer More: Why Central Banks Should Give Money Directly to the People

Rather than trying to spur private-sector spending through asset purchases or interest-rate changes, central banks, such as the Fed, should hand consumers cash directly. In practice, this policy could take the form of giving central banks the ability to hand their countries’ tax-paying households a certain amount of money. The government could distribute cash equally to all households or, even better, aim for the bottom 80 percent of households in terms of income. Targeting those who earn the least would have two primary benefits. For one thing, lower-income households are more prone to consume, so they would provide a greater boost to spending. For another, the policy would offset rising income inequality. 
http://www.markblyth.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Print-Less-but-Transfer-More.pdf