Skip to content

Alternatives Quote by Paul Krugman

“I've always believed that a speculative bubble need not lead to a recession, as long as interest rates are cut quickly enough to stimulate alternative investments. But I had to face the fact that speculative bubbles usually are followed by recessions. My excuse has been that this was because the…” quote by Paul Krugman
Download Open image
“I've always believed that a speculative bubble need not lead to a recession, as long as interest rates are cut quickly enough to stimulate alternative investments. But I had to face the fact that speculative bubbles usually are followed by recessions. My excuse has been that this was because the policy makers moved too slowly - that central banks were typically too slow to cut interest rates in the face of a burst bubble, giving the downturn time to build up a lot of momentum.”

Paul Krugman

About This Quote

Source Article: Opinion piece, New York Times, 2023

Speculative bubbles often cause recessions unless monetary policy reacts swiftly to lower rates and redirect capital.

In simple terms: Bubbles need fast rate cuts to avoid recessions.

Key Takeaway

Act quickly on rate cuts during bubbles.

Themes

economics monetary policy financial cycles risk management

Mood

analytical concerned

Type

economic policy critical

When to use this quote

  • central bank decisions
  • investment strategy
  • market analysis
  • economic forecasting

Key Concepts

interest rates liquidity investment shifts policy lag

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can policymakers balance inflation control with rapid rate cuts?
  • What alternative tools exist when rate cuts are limited?
A Different Perspective

Policy may be constrained by inflation concerns or political pressures.

4.5 out of 5 (7 ratings)

More by Paul Krugman

Explore all 175 Paul Krugman quotes

More Alternatives quotes

Browse all 1,463 Alternatives quotes