Are real sector bailouts good public policy in crisis?

In early 1932, President Hoover created the Reconstruction Finance Corporation during the depth of the Great Depression. The objective was to protect the credit structure and stimulate employment. The loans given were below market interest rates; hence qualified as bailouts. Gertjan argues that these bailouts benefited existing employees and bondholders, but did they meet the goal of keeping credit flows alive? In this episode, we discuss the new deal railroad assistance and its implications for today: Are real sector bailouts good public policy in crisis? 

Gertjan Verdickt (KU Leuven) in conversation with Carmen Hofmann (eabh)