U.S. Economy

This website of Nicola Jentzsch (Free University of Berlin, JFKI) is devoted to the the U.S. economy. Students get an overview of the economic players and the important sources for material on the U.S. economy. The side is organized according to the major topics discussed in the seminars at JFKI. 

  • Capital and Credit Markets in the U.S.

 Capital and Credit Markets 

1. Regulatory Actors

There are different institutions that are all having their part in the conduct of supervision and regulation of capital and credit market institutions, for instance the FED, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but also less known players such as the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.  

Federal Reserve 

Go to this side.

SEC

Founded in after the Great Depression, this commission has the primary purpose of protecting the integrity of financial markets and the rights of investors

CoC

The Comptroller has little to do with the currency (historically it had such obligations, after its establishment in 1864). Today the authority over national banks. COC is boss of the FDIC.

FTC

All institutions that are not regulated by any of the other bodies are under the supervision of the FTC, such as credit reporting agencies.

2. Stock Exchanges & Trading Platforms

There are several stock exchanges in the U.S., regional ones as well as the well-known trading places such as NYSE and NASDAQ. They vary in the services provided, as well as in their philosophy and - probably most important - the trading volume. In the past, the market has also experienced a dramatic growth of ECNs. 

New York Stock Exchange

NASDAQ

Regional ones:

  • Boston Stock Exchange
  • Pacific Stock Exchange
  • Midwest Stock Exchange
  • Philadelphia Stock Exchange
  • Cincinnati Stock Exchange
  • Spokane Stock Exchange

2. History 

The U.S. stock markets display an interesting history of booms and busts, regulatory measures and their failure. Moreover, this market might be described as one of the most innovative financial markets. Derivative markets are much more mature than in Europe, for instance.

1929

Great Crash and Depression

1934

NYSE registers as stock exchange

1971

NASDAQ founded

1981

NYSE founds NYFE

1987

Stock Market Crash

2000

NASDAQ open at Time Square


 

© 2003 Nicola Jentzsch - last update: 12/10/03