How Quantitative Easing Helps the Rich and Soaks the Rest

How Quantitative Easing Helps the Rich and Soaks the Rest
September 20, 2012

Anthony Randazzo

Anthony Randazzo is the Director of Economic Research for the Reason Foundation. (read full bio)

The decision is in: Unlimited quantitative easing. That was the announcement from the Federal Open Market Committee on Sept. 13, launching a third round of purchases of securities in a bid to boost the economy and reduce unemployment.

This time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and crew are pledging to buy $40 billion per month until the economy improves. The Fed's policy committee also extended its zero interest rate policy until “at least mid-2015.” If QE3 lasts that long, the Feds will be printing at least another $800 billion to buy mortgage-backed securities.  

It won’t be a surprise to read conservatives lambasting this as unconventional monetary policy meant to help reelect President Obama. And inflation hawks have already started screeching. But the loudest cry of “for shame” should be coming from the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Regressive Redistribution

Quantitative easing—a fancy term for the Federal Reserve buying securities from predefined financial institutions, such as their investments in federal debt or mortgages—is fundamentally a regressive redistribution program that has been boosting wealth for those already engaged in the financial sector or those who already own homes, while passing little along to the rest of the economy. It is a primary driver of income inequality formed by crony capitalism. And it is hurting prospects for economic growth by promoting mal-investment in the economy.


In August Bernanke said quantitative easing had contributed to the rebound in stock prices over the past few years, and he suggested this was a positive outcome.

“This effect is potentially important, because stock values affect both consumption and investment decisions,” he argued, apparently under the belief that the Fed has a third mandate to support rising stock prices.

This is ironically a trickle-down monetary policy theory, where rising stock prices mean more wealth and more consumption that trickles down the economic ladder. One problem with this idea is that there is a gigantic mountain of household debt—about $12 trillion worth—that is diverting away any trickle-down. An even worse assumption is that the stock market really reflects what is going on in the real economy.

Reason for Anger

Where the Occupy movement should really be teed off is when you consider that most equity shares in America are owned by the wealthiest 10 percent. That is not inherently a problem—wealthier individuals with more disposable income will have more ability to take ownership stakes in companies than those in lower income brackets. And it is not a call for class warfare.

However, it does mean that when the Fed engages in quantitative easing it is providing a benefit to a narrow segment of society at the expense of others (either through future inflation or through the cost of raising taxes to pay for increased federal debts). That is the definition of crony capitalism.

At the same time, all Americans have seen the prices of basic goods increase over the past few years, in large part due to rising commodities prices. The whole idea of QE is to drive investors out of lower-risk investments such as mortgage-backed securities and government debt and get them to put that money in “more productive” use—lend it, build skyscrapers, invest in technology, etc. Since there is little confidence about the future of the economy, many investors have crowded into the stock market with their money, and still others have invested in commodities.

Price Hikes


The cronyism doesn’t end there. In a Dallas Fed paper released in August, OPEC chief economist William White points out that easy monetary policy favors “senior management of banks in particular.” And even Bernanke himself suggested (as if it were a good thing) that quantitative easing purchases “have been found to be associated with significant declines in the yields on both corporate bonds and MBS.” Translation: the Federal Reserve has made it artificially cheaper for corporations to borrow money and has pushed up the prices of houses (benefiting homeowners but hurting homebuyers).

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought cheap loans allowing businesses to leverage up and juiced housing prices were key parts of what got us into this mess?

Manipulated Distribution


The crony capitalism and negative wealth effects of quantitative easing should clearly give pause. The fact that QE promotes activities that led to the housing bubble should have stopped its progress as an idea a long time ago, especially since these problems are greater than any gain that would come from this now perpetual pace of money creation.

Anthony Randazzo ( is director of economic research at the Reason Foundation. Used with permission from

Anthony Randazzo
