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An Atlanta Fed economist has examined the events culminating in the U.S. government's placing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship. He also explores the effectiveness of the action and what it means for the mortgage market.
 Podcast with Scott Frame (MP3 6:35)
The report focuses on the Southeast and aspects of the recession and financial turmoil that have weighed heavily on the region—the troubled real estate sector and foreclosures, job losses, banking system strains, and lackluster consumer spending.
"Unaffordable" loans, as measured at origination, are unlikely to be the main reason that borrowers decide to default. Rather, the typical problem appears to be a combination of household income shocks and an unprecedented fall in house prices.
This issue of the Atlanta Fed's newsletter for teachers features the winners of the 2008–09 Lesson Plan of the Year contest, a primer on GDP, tips on preparing students for a rapidly changing financial marketplace, and more.
International trade flourished in the booming global economy. But just as the rising tide of global trade lifted all ships, the worldwide recession has forced some governments to finance the trade that private enterprise had funded in more prosperous times.
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Despite their relative inefficiency, checks dominated the twentieth-century U.S. payment system. This article traces checks' thousand-year history, discussing how events created comparative advantages for checks that are only now being overcome by electronic payment methods.
Opening a bank account is one of the simplest steps students can take to establish a firm financial foundation and sound money management habits.
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