The Money Illusion

"This thoughtful and broad-ranging critique of the post-financial crisis consensus on macroeconomic policy is worth reading for anyone interested in monetary policy. . . . Some may wonder why anyone today would write (or read) a book raking over the [2008] financial crisis, when the world has moved on to dealing with the pandemic, war in Europe, and how to manage economic policy in an era of wild political see-saws. In fact, Sumner’s book is of great significance to our current crises, and his challenge to conventional wisdom is bracing." -- Kenneth Rogoff * Times Literary Supplement *
"Were I still teaching monetary economics, I wouldn't hesitate to assign it, not as a textbook, but as the testament of one of today's most original monetary economists. For The Money Illusion is capable of teaching them something no textbook ever will, namely, the importance of thinking for oneself." -- George Selgin * Barron's *
"[An] illuminating journey of our macroeconomic past, and the shrouded role that monetary mismatches played in past recessions. . . . It's the kind of book where you learn something on every single page—often several astonishing things." * Frontier Post *
"The leading authority on market monetarism re-evaluates the 2008 Recession, rejecting the consensus on the origins of the crisis, and narrows it down to a single cause: allowing the nominal GDP to plummet." * Bookseller (UK) *
"As the world’s leading 'market monetarist,' Sumner has forced economists and policymakers to rethink their approach to monetary policy, particularly since the Great Recession of 2008–9. This long-awaited book is clearly and effectively written and brings Sumner's unique and valuable perspective into full view." -- Douglas Irwin, Dartmouth College
"Sumner summarizes, clearly and concisely, lessons drawn from a lifetime of studying both monetary theory and economic history. He skillfully shows how his market monetarist framework helps us understand what went wrong in 2008 and what it will take to bring growth and stability back to the US economy." -- Peter Ireland, Boston College
"Sumner has assembled all of his ideas and commentary since the beginning of the Great Recession regarding monetary policy, encompassing his writing in journals, books, blogs, and policy papers. Given that Sumner is basically the standard bearer of the market monetarists, this is a welcome task. His systematic application of market monetarism to the Great Recession constitutes a valuable contribution and will probably be used as a reference by many. The virtue of the book is that it is accessible to all." -- Vincent Geloso, King's University College
"Sumner uses his well-honed blogging skills to explain, for both amateur and professional economists, the 'market monetarist' perspective. The high point is his historical analysis of monetary policy, in the United States and elsewhere, during the 2008 Great Recession. Sumner's thesis directly contradicts the prevailing view that central banks simply lacked the power to offset the overwhelming force of a massive financial shock, and I think his analysis will eventually prove convincing." -- Nick Rowe, Carleton University