Fed Reckoning

A critical examination of the Federal Reserve—told by the policymakers, economists, and observers who know it bestThe Federal Reserve is one of the most powerful institutions in the world—and one of the least understood. Drawing on twenty-one interviews with former governors, reserve bank presidents, staff economists, lawmakers, journalists, scholars, international central bankers, and investors, Fed Reckoning explores how the institution has navigated the defining upheavals of the modern era: the global financial crisis, the pandemic shock, the post-2021 inflation surge, and the banking turmoil of 2023. It traces the modern Federal Reserve from Volcker to Powell, examining its evolving approach to the dual mandate, financial stability, regulation and supervision, and communication. Just as importantly, these interviews reveal the people behind the institution: their judgments, disagreements, frustrations, and sense of mission. The result is a candid, deeply informed portrait of the Federal Reserve at a moment when its power is immense, its independence is under pressure, and its future path is far from certain—and essential reading for anyone seeking to understand how it makes and defends its decisions.