Author : David Min
Publisher :
Page : 40 pages
File Size : 48,81 MB
Release : 2018
Category :
ISBN :
The election of Donald Trump alongside libertarian majorities in the House and Senate is likely to jumpstart housing finance reform efforts, and it appears almost certain that the federal government's role in housing finance will be significantly reduced. A number of legal and economic analyses have looked at the effects that housing finance reform may have on the availability of mortgage funding for American households. However, these commentaries have to date overlooked the implications that such reform presents for the global money supply. This Article shows that:(1) housing finance has historically played an important role in money creation; (2) Fannie and Freddie today are a major producer of government-backed “safe assets;” and (3) these safe assets are at the heart of money creation in the shadow banking system today, which is an important part of the overall money supply. Accordingly, this Article argues that housing finance reform as it is currently being contemplated is likely to have negative near-term and long-term implications for financial stability and monetary policy. Policy makers should carefully consider these effects of major changes to the housing finance system on the money supply before committing to any course of action.