Cost Quote by Ben Bernanke
“The U.S. government has a technology, called a printing press (or, today, its electronic equivalent), that allows it to produce as many U.S. dollars as it wishes at essentially no cost.”
About This Quote
The statement highlights the government's ability to create money at negligible marginal cost, implying that currency supply is not constrained by physical resources.
In simple terms: Money creation is cheap and limitless.
Key Takeaway
Fiscal policy can be expanded without direct cost.
Themes
monetary policy
inflation risk
government power
economic theory
fiscal flexibility
Mood
cautious
analytical
critical
Type
policy observation
economic critique
When to use this quote
- budget deficits
- stimulus packages
- debt financing
- currency devaluation
- monetary easing
Key Concepts
currency issuance
central banking
cost of money
economic sovereignty
Practical Applications
- designing fiscal stimulus
- assessing inflationary pressures
Questions to Reflect On
- How does unlimited money creation affect long-term price stability?
- What safeguards can prevent abuse of this power?
A Different Perspective
While production cost is low, excessive issuance can erode purchasing power and trigger inflation.
![“[Photography is ] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that could be happening, to some degree, with photography, too. It doesn't cost as much to do it, either.” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/garry-winogrand-2342_cost_photography-is-likewise-even-french-impr_2802.jpg)
