Ben Bernanke Effects Quotations

Certainly there is no way to direct the effects of monetary policy at a single class of assets while leaving other financial markets and the broader economy untouched. One might as well try to perform brain surgery with a sledgehammer.

Under constrained discretion, the central bank is free to do its best to stabilize output and employment in the face of short-run disturbances, with the appropriate caution born of our imperfect knowledge of the economy and of the effects of policy (this is the 'discretion' part of constrained discretion),

These inflation effects should fade even if energy prices remain elevated, so long as monetary policy keeps inflation expectations well-anchored.

Thus far, at least, the growth effects of energy price increases appear relatively modest.

As long as there's not permanent damage to our energy infrastructure, the effects on the overall economy should be fairly modest.

As long as we find that the energy impact is only temporary ... my guess is that the effects on the overall economy will be fairly modest.

So far, the effects appear to be relatively modest on growth.

Long-term unemployment is particularly costly to those directly affected, of course. But in addition, because of its negative effects on workers' skills and attachment to the labor force, long-term unemployment may ultimately reduce the productive capacity of our economy.

History proves... that a smart central bank can protect the economy and the financial sector from the nastier side effects of a stock market collapse.

In the absence of a shift in market perceptions of the relative attractiveness of U.S. and foreign assets, government policies would likely have only limited effects on the trade balance.