Quote from ammo:
this is just an idea, simply cut out the banks,let homeowners borrow directly from the fed at 3% and tack on the 3 and 3/4 that the banks would have gotten on to the principal of the mortgage,300k mortgage would be 309k to the bank and the fed would give the homeowner a loan at 3 or 4%,problem solved,i'm sure this solution is too simple to work,criticism welcome
Banks would fail under that scenario.
The whole purpose of low rates is to recapitalize banks.
They take the spread off 2% Fed Funds and loan a 30-year @ 8%.
If the FED gave loans direct to consumers, banks will lose the vig and go under.
Also, theres auto-loans, home appliance/renovation loans, business/commercial loans to consider.
The Fed would have to provide facility for all that and go in direct competition to banks (who own the Fed Reserve system) and undercut their shareholders. Unlikely.
Also, theres risk premium to consider. Economies can't stay awash with money and grow forever. Even if the credit crisis didn't exist, pouring more money onto red hot inflation will spur little excess growth. Risk premium tied to future outlook should be commensurate with actual lending rates. 2% or whatever is totally artificial. What I mean by that, real risk implicit in future lending is much higher than 2%, given current outlook.
Low rates direct to consumers wouldn't save this economy. Its a maxed out fiat boom and we'd just see more price/wage inflation than actual growth, that, over time, would worsen in severity towards inflation.
What the FED really needs to do is crank rates and flush everyone out. Now that'd be fun to watch.