Alexander W. Salter
Senior Fellow, Sound Money Project
Alexander William Salter is the Georgie G. Snyder Associate Professor of Economics in the Rawls College of Business and the Comparative Economics Research Fellow with the Free Market Institute, both at Texas Tech University. He is a co-author of Money and the Rule of Law: Generality and Predictability in Monetary Institutions, published by Cambridge University Press. In addition to his numerous scholarly articles, he has published nearly 300 opinion pieces in leading national outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, National Review, Fox News Opinion, and The Hill.
Salter earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics at George Mason University and his B.A. in Economics at Occidental College. He was an AIER Summer Fellowship Program participant in 2011.
-
•
Despite CPI Uptick, Monetary Policy Remains Tight
“The slight bump in inflation won’t spook them into going even tighter. And despite the cries from financial markets, it’s too early to contemplate cuts.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Disinflation Dream Come True
“The Fed will probably keep the fed funds target range unchanged in December. Officials previously signaled additional tightening, but things have changed.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Timiraos on Supply-Side Disinflation
“Slowing down total spending growth (current-dollar GDP) by hiking interest rates and shrinking the balance sheet clearly mattered. Supply-side improvements do too, but they’re likely playing the role of the sidekick rather than the hero.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
The Fed Delivered Disinflation
“Most prices are higher today than they would have been had they grown at an average rate of 2 percent since January 2020. We oughtn’t pin a medal on an arsonist’s chest for putting out a fire he started.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
The FOMC Was Right to Not Hike
“The best approach for the FOMC is to keep its rate target where it is. We should wait for additional inflation data in November before calling for even-tighter monetary policy.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Alan Blinder: Let Them Eat Disinflation
“Blinder thinks deflation always and everywhere causes economic harm. ‘It takes a truly sick economy to cause deflation,’ he warns. But he’s wrong.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Rising Treasury Yields Can’t Substitute for Fed Rate Hikes
“If the yield curve is the explanation, then market forces aren’t ‘substituting’ for Fed policy. They’re simply reflecting an economic transition from one microeconomic equilibrium in the market for loanable funds to another.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Forced Reconversion to that “Old-Time Fiscal Religion”
“Circumstances beyond our control will likely compel us to revert to something like the ‘old-time fiscal religion’ of balanced budgets during ordinary times, reserving deficits for extraordinary times.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Steady As She Goes
“But even if new PCE figures confirm a bump in the disinflationary road, it’s still likely best for the FOMC to hold off on further rate hikes.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Inflationary Growth is Fake News
“Economic growth means more output. Comparatively less money chases comparatively more goods. All else equal, prices across the economy should fall.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Despite CPI Uptick, Monetary Policy Remains Tight
“The slight bump in inflation won’t spook them into going even tighter. And despite the cries from financial markets, it’s too early to contemplate cuts.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Disinflation Dream Come True
“The Fed will probably keep the fed funds target range unchanged in December. Officials previously signaled additional tightening, but things have changed.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Timiraos on Supply-Side Disinflation
“Slowing down total spending growth (current-dollar GDP) by hiking interest rates and shrinking the balance sheet clearly mattered. Supply-side improvements do too, but they’re likely playing the role of the sidekick rather than the hero.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
The Fed Delivered Disinflation
“Most prices are higher today than they would have been had they grown at an average rate of 2 percent since January 2020. We oughtn’t pin a medal on an arsonist’s chest for putting out a fire he started.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
The FOMC Was Right to Not Hike
“The best approach for the FOMC is to keep its rate target where it is. We should wait for additional inflation data in November before calling for even-tighter monetary policy.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Alan Blinder: Let Them Eat Disinflation
“Blinder thinks deflation always and everywhere causes economic harm. ‘It takes a truly sick economy to cause deflation,’ he warns. But he’s wrong.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Rising Treasury Yields Can’t Substitute for Fed Rate Hikes
“If the yield curve is the explanation, then market forces aren’t ‘substituting’ for Fed policy. They’re simply reflecting an economic transition from one microeconomic equilibrium in the market for loanable funds to another.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Forced Reconversion to that “Old-Time Fiscal Religion”
“Circumstances beyond our control will likely compel us to revert to something like the ‘old-time fiscal religion’ of balanced budgets during ordinary times, reserving deficits for extraordinary times.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Steady As She Goes
“But even if new PCE figures confirm a bump in the disinflationary road, it’s still likely best for the FOMC to hold off on further rate hikes.” ~Alexander W. Salter
-
•
Inflationary Growth is Fake News
“Economic growth means more output. Comparatively less money chases comparatively more goods. All else equal, prices across the economy should fall.” ~Alexander W. Salter