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After a long period in which the desired direction for inflation was always downward, the industrialized world's central banks must today try to avoid major changes in the inflation rate in either direction.
Ben Bernanke
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The best approach here if at all possible is to use supervisory and regulatory methods to restrain undue risk-taking and to make sure the system is resilient in case an asset price bubble bursts in the future.
Ben Bernanke
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We benefit from foreign direct investment. Many Americans are employed by foreign companies with plants in the United States, for example in the automobile industry. So, trade is a two way street. I think, it is important to protect Americans who lose their jobs, or whose jobs come under pressure from international trade. But, I think, we need to be careful not to embrace economic isolationism.
Ben Bernanke
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Monetary policy is not a panacea.
Ben Bernanke
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If you want to understand geology, study earthquakes. If you want to understand the economy, study the Depression.
Ben Bernanke
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The Federal Reserve has always recognized the importance of allowing markets to work, and government oversight of financial firms will never be fully effective without the aid of strong market discipline.
Ben Bernanke
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To be sure, the provision of liquidity alone can by no means solve the problems of credit risk and credit losses; but it can reduce liquidity premiums, help restore the confidence of investors, and thus promote stability.
Ben Bernanke
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The central bank needs to be able to make policy without short term political concerns.
Ben Bernanke
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As an educator myself, I understand the profound effect that good teachers and a quality education have on the lives of our young people.
Ben Bernanke
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We see that coming back in the fourth quarter and going on into next year.
Ben Bernanke
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In the future, my communications with the public and with the markets will be entirely through regular and formal channels.
Ben Bernanke
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Education - lifelong education for everyone - from toddlers to workers well advanced in their careers - is indeed an excellent investment for individuals and society as a whole.
Ben Bernanke
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Investment banks manage to go bankrupt through their investment-banking activities, commercial banks manage to go bankrupt through their commercial-banking activities.
Ben Bernanke
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I and others were mistaken early on in saying that the subprime crisis would be contained. The causal relationship between the housing problem and the broad financial system was very complex and difficult to predict.
Ben Bernanke
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You want to put the fire out first and then worry about the fire code.
Ben Bernanke
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Monetary policy is most effective when it is coherent, consistent and predictable as possible, while at all times leaving full scope for flexibility and the use of judgment as conditions may require.
Ben Bernanke
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Deflation is defined as a general decline in prices, with emphasis on the word 'general.'
Ben Bernanke
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To avoid large and unsustainable budget deficits, the nation will ultimately have to choose among higher taxes, modifications to entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare, less spending on everything else from education to defense, or some combination of the above.
Ben Bernanke
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According to government ethics rules and FOMC rules, it is permissible for a retired governor to speak in public about the economy, so long as he or she does not divulge confidential information. I have no indication that he has violated that rule.
Ben Bernanke
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The ultimate purpose of economics, of course, is to understand and promote the enhancement of well-being.
Ben Bernanke
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Building a rainy-day fund during good times may not be politically popular, but it can pay off during the bad times.
Ben Bernanke
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Growth in U.S. real imports slowed to about 3 percent in 2006, in part reflecting a drop in real terms in imports of crude oil and petroleum products.
Ben Bernanke
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If I am confirmed by the Senate I will do everything in my power, in collaboration with by Fed colleagues to help assure the continued prosperity and stability of the American economy.
Ben Bernanke
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With such an uncertain outlook, the new statement must be flexible enough to leave officials with several options for future action.
Ben Bernanke
