Ben Olken

The Federal Reserve is working overtime to try to shore up the reeling economy. Last night it freed up credit for banks, cut a key interest rate, and bailed out investment firm Bear Stearns. Meantime, out on the campaign trail, the presidential candidates are all trying to convince voters that they have the know-how to steer America clear of recession. But do Presidents really have the power to heal an ailing economy? Or affect the economy at all? Ben Olken is a Harvard economist who’s studied the effect of leaders on the marketplace, and he speaks with Faith Salie on Fair Game.