2014 Homer Jones Memorial Lecture, Robert E. Lucas, "Liquidity: Meaning, Measurement, Management," Part 2
April 2, 2014
In the next portion of his lecture, Lucas looks at the individual economic history of individual countries. A payments system involves many different liquid assets. This, Lucas says, is the basis for a theory of inflation. The goal, he says, is to seek a low average rate. One way to do this is to commit to a constant rate of money growth, which is set to imply a desired inflation rate. A more flexible idea, Lucas explains, is inflation targeting. Lucas points out that central banks around the world who use inflation targeting have had remarkable success at keeping inflation low and stable, even during the crisis of 2008.
- James Bullard, Introduction and Welcoming Remarks (6:26)
- Robert E. Lucas, Lecture Part 1: Meaning (19:59)
- Robert E. Lucas, Lecture Part 2: Measurement (11:44)
- Robert E. Lucas, Lecture Part 3: Management (14:44)
- Audience Q&A (20:47)
Full text of President Bullard's remarks.
The Homer Jones Memorial Lecture Series honors those who exemplify the highest qualities of leadership in economics and public policy. As research director, and later as senior vice president at the St. Louis Fed, Homer Jones (1906-1986) played a major role in developing the Bank as a leader in monetary research and statistics.
The Homer Jones Memorial Lecture Series is sponsored by:
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- St. Louis Gateway Chapter of the National Association for Business Economics
- Saint Louis University
- Southern Illinois University–Edwardsville
- University of Missouri–St. Louis
- Washington University in St. Louis
