On Investing

The Fed’s Balance Sheet Takes Center Stage (With David Beckworth)

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Oct 31, 2025
David Beckworth, a Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center and host of the Macro Musings podcast, shares his insights into the complexities of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet. He discusses the implications of stablecoins and CBDCs, highlighting their potential to reshape the financial landscape. Beckworth outlines strategies for the Fed to calmly downsize its balance sheet and addresses the challenges posed by rising federal debt. His expertise sheds light on how these monetary shifts impact investors and the economy.
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INSIGHT

Balance Sheet Matters As Much As Rates

  • The Fed's balance sheet size matters as much as interest rates because it shapes bank reserves and funding conditions.
  • David Beckworth warns the Fed may be nearing a point where further shrinkage becomes disruptive to money markets.
INSIGHT

TGA Growth Tightens Bank Reserves

  • A growing Treasury General Account (TGA) effectively withdraws reserves from banks and tightens funding conditions.
  • Beckworth flags the TGA's expansion as a key reason the Fed is pausing further balance-sheet shrinkage.
ADVICE

Three Steps To Shrink The Fed Safely

  • To downsize calmly, the Fed should pursue asset swaps, manage the TGA, and improve ceiling facilities before shrinking further.
  • Beckworth outlines these three steps as prerequisites to avoid disrupting Treasury markets and short-term funding.
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