Planet Money cover image

Planet Money

The U.S. economy's biggest superpower, explained

Dec 11, 2023
Yesha Yadav, expert in U.S. Treasuries and professor at Vanderbilt Law School, discusses the fragility of the U.S. Treasury market and its potential consequences. They explain the importance of treasuries in daily life, global financial system, unlocking credit, and maintaining economic stability.
13:49

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The US treasury market's lack of transparency and collateralization practices creates inherent fragility and suggests the need for increased monitoring and regulation.
  • Treasuries serve as the linchpin that unlocks credit and liquidity, providing stability and security to the financial system.

Deep dives

The Importance of US Treasuries in the Financial System

US Treasuries play a crucial role in the economy, providing the ability for the government to borrow at low costs. This asset is considered risk-free, which allows people to invest in them during times of crisis. They are the foundation of the financial system, providing stability and liquidity. Regulated financial firms are required to hold treasuries as high-quality liquid assets to maintain their stability. Treasuries are also used as collateral in private financial transactions, such as the repo market, where they ensure the safety of credit relationships.

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