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April 1970

A Monetarist Model for Economic Stabilization

by Leonall C. Andersen and Keith M. Carlson

The monetarist view that changes in the money stock are a primary determinant of changes in total spending, and should thereby be given major emphasis in economic stabilization programs, has been of growing interest in recent years. From the mid-1930’s to the mid-1960’s. monetary policy received little emphasis in economic stabilization policy. Presumed failure of monetary policy during the early years of the Great Depression, along with the development and general acceptance of Keynesian economics, resulted in a main emphasis on fiscal actions — Federal Government spending and taxing programs — in economic stabilization plans. Monetary policy, insofar as it received any attention, was generally expressed in terms of market rates of interest.