{
  "wireMagic": "pb3",
  "pens": [ {
  
  } ],
  "wsWinStyles": [ {
  
  } ],
  "wpWinPositions": [ {
  
  } ],
  "events": [ {
    "tStartMs": 6913,
    "dDurationMs": 5625,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic\nrocked economies worldwide."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 12829,
    "dDurationMs": 2292,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Millions of people lost their jobs,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 15121,
    "dDurationMs": 4250,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and many businesses struggled to survive \nor shut down completely."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 19746,
    "dDurationMs": 4125,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Governments responded with some of the \nlargest economic relief packages"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 23871,
    "dDurationMs": 1000,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "in history—"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 24871,
    "dDurationMs": 5042,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "the United States alone spent \n$2.2 trillion on a first round of relief."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 30246,
    "dDurationMs": 2166,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "So where did all this money come from?"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 33037,
    "dDurationMs": 4084,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Most countries have a central bank\nthat manages the money supply"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 37121,
    "dDurationMs": 3666,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and is independent from the government\nto prevent political interference."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 41371,
    "dDurationMs": 3208,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "The government can implement many\ntypes of economic policy,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 44579,
    "dDurationMs": 1875,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "like decreasing people's taxes"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 46454,
    "dDurationMs": 3333,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and creating jobs through public\ninfrastructure projects,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 49787,
    "dDurationMs": 3167,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "but it actually can’t just increase\nthe money supply."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 53537,
    "dDurationMs": 4209,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "The central bank determines how much\nmoney is in circulation at a time."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 58371,
    "dDurationMs": 4041,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "So why can’t central banks authorize \nthe printing of unlimited money"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 62412,
    "dDurationMs": 1876,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "to help an economy in crisis?"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 64496,
    "dDurationMs": 3042,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "They could, \nbut that’s a short-term solution"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 67538,
    "dDurationMs": 3833,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "that doesn’t necessarily boost \neconomic growth in the long-term,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 71371,
    "dDurationMs": 2250,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and can actually hurt the economy."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 74121,
    "dDurationMs": 1000,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Why?"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 75496,
    "dDurationMs": 1875,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "With more money in circulation,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 77371,
    "dDurationMs": 3833,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "manufacturers of goods like food, \nclothing, and cars"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 81204,
    "dDurationMs": 3542,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "could respond to demand \nsimply by raising prices,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 84746,
    "dDurationMs": 2667,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "rather than manufacturing \nmore of these goods"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 87413,
    "dDurationMs": 2208,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and creating new jobs in the process."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 90413,
    "dDurationMs": 4041,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "This would mean you could no longer buy\nas much with the same amount of money—"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 94454,
    "dDurationMs": 2584,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "a situation known as inflation."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 97496,
    "dDurationMs": 3125,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "A little bit of inflation,\nabout 2% a year,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 100621,
    "dDurationMs": 5083,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "is considered a sign of economic health,\nbut more can quickly derail an economy."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 106329,
    "dDurationMs": 3125,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In recent decades, \ncentral banks have tried an approach"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 109454,
    "dDurationMs": 4250,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "called quantitative easing \nto infuse the economy with cash"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 113704,
    "dDurationMs": 3167,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "while maintaining a low risk \nof severe inflation."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 117329,
    "dDurationMs": 1292,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In this approach,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 118621,
    "dDurationMs": 5583,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "a central bank increases cash flow \nby purchasing another entity’s bonds."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 124454,
    "dDurationMs": 3625,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Anyone can buy bonds from corporations\nor governments."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 128079,
    "dDurationMs": 3875,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "When you buy a bond, you’re essentially\nloaning money to the company—"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 131954,
    "dDurationMs": 4334,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "or government— with the promise that\nthey’ll pay it back later with interest."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 136288,
    "dDurationMs": 4500,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "This is why buying bonds is sometimes\nreferred to as buying debt."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 140954,
    "dDurationMs": 5167,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "When an individual buys a bond, they're\nusing money that's already in circulation."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 146121,
    "dDurationMs": 4708,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "But when the central bank buys a bond,\nit essentially creates cash,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 150829,
    "dDurationMs": 4667,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "supplying money that didn’t exist before \nin exchange for bonds."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 155829,
    "dDurationMs": 5917,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Both during the 2008-2009 financial crisis\nand again in 2020,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 161746,
    "dDurationMs": 3208,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "the United States’ central bank,\nthe Federal Reserve,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 164954,
    "dDurationMs": 4000,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "bought bonds from the US government\ncalled treasury bonds."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 169621,
    "dDurationMs": 4542,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Historically, many people have purchased\nthese bonds as a safe form of investment,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 174163,
    "dDurationMs": 3125,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "knowing the US government will\npay them back with interest."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 177288,
    "dDurationMs": 6000,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In early 2020, the Federal Reserve pledged\nto buy unlimited treasury bonds,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 183288,
    "dDurationMs": 4083,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "loaning the U.S. government \nan unprecedented amount of money—"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 187371,
    "dDurationMs": 2833,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "cash that the government used \nto fund relief efforts"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 190204,
    "dDurationMs": 2917,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "like stimulus checks \nand unemployment benefits."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 193121,
    "dDurationMs": 2750,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "This isn’t equivalent \nto simply printing money,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 195871,
    "dDurationMs": 1417,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "though it may sound similar."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 197496,
    "dDurationMs": 3417,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Because of the way bonds are priced, \nby buying so many,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 200913,
    "dDurationMs": 4083,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "the Federal Reserve effectively\nlowered the return on them,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 204996,
    "dDurationMs": 4583,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which incentivizes other investors \nto lend to riskier entities—"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 209579,
    "dDurationMs": 4334,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "like small and midsize companies— \nin order to get a decent return."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 214329,
    "dDurationMs": 4542,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Encouraging lending this way should help\ncompanies of all sizes borrow money"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 218871,
    "dDurationMs": 2583,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "to funnel into projects and hires,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 221454,
    "dDurationMs": 3625,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "boosting the economy over time in addition\nto helping the government"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 225079,
    "dDurationMs": 4125,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "supply people with urgently needed \ncash in the short term."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 229204,
    "dDurationMs": 4042,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "The Federal Reserve’s pledge to buy \nunlimited government debt"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 233246,
    "dDurationMs": 2292,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "has raised some questions— \nand eyebrows."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 235954,
    "dDurationMs": 3250,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "In theory, this means the government\ncould issue more bonds,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 239204,
    "dDurationMs": 2000,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "which the central bank would purchase."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 241204,
    "dDurationMs": 2750,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "The government could then use the money\nfrom the new bonds"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 243954,
    "dDurationMs": 1667,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "to pay off the old bonds,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 245621,
    "dDurationMs": 4292,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "effectively meaning the government never \npays back its debt to the central bank."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 250038,
    "dDurationMs": 2958,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Citing this and other \ntheoretical scenarios,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 252996,
    "dDurationMs": 4875,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "some economists have raised concerns \nthat a central bank buying government debt"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 257871,
    "dDurationMs": 3500,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "is a subversion of a system designed \nto protect the economy."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 261704,
    "dDurationMs": 2459,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Others have insisted these measures\nare necessary,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 264163,
    "dDurationMs": 2750,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "and have so far helped \nstabilize economies."
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 267121,
    "dDurationMs": 3917,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "Though quantitative easing has become\na lot more common in recent years,"
    } ]
  }, {
    "tStartMs": 271038,
    "dDurationMs": 4958,
    "segs": [ {
      "utf8": "it’s still relatively new, and potential\nconsequences are still unfolding."
    } ]
  } ]
}
