Bill Dudley, Columnist

The Fed’s Quantitative Easing Program Cost Too Much

The total bill could exceed $500 billion. A proper evaluation should make the next one less expensive.

Next time try spending less.

Photographer: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
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America’s experiment with quantitative easing is almost over. This week, the Federal Reserve will likely announce plans to slow the shrinkage of its balance sheet, foreboding the end of a long period in which it sought to stimulate the economy by holding large quantities of Treasury and mortgage securities.

So did it work? Yes, but at excessive cost.