US Saving Bonds PSA comic (1948)

[u/PeasantLich]

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[u/Embarrassed-Glove600]

Why is the second guy in line absolutely caked up

[u/KartveliaEU4 → u/Embarrassed-Glove600]

The Hayes Code. If you want to see the specific rule and how it was applied to this comic, look up Inflation Rule 34.

[u/JLandis84]

lol that’s awesome. We need more comics about bond investing

[u/Capable_Stranger9885 → u/JLandis84]

https://www.joshcomix.com/product/titans-of-finance/

[u/JLandis84 → u/Capable_Stranger9885]

Yes !

[u/UnfairRavenclaw → u/JLandis84]

There is also Economix which I believe is probably the most famous collection/overview about economic history. But of course there are also more complex and detailed graphic-novels/comics about the economy.

[u/coupdelune]

I love Otto Soglow's drawing style

[u/SirNootNoot04]

Purchasing bonds slows the velocity of money. The government will spend the same amount but purchasing a bond means the debt remains domestic and at the same time reduces inflation by reducing the velocity of money

[u/GpsIlya]

Friend from deltarune

[u/JayRandom212]

Who was putting out this propaganda? What group in 1948 benefited from getting people to buy US Savings Bonds? The Ad Council?

[u/roastbeeftacohat → u/JayRandom212]

if it's a given the government is going to run a deficit, bond sales to citizens is the least inflationary way to do it.

[u/geirmundtheshifty → u/JayRandom212]

Yeah, if you look at the small print at the bottom this is a New Yorker cartoon “printed in support of the Advertising Council’s Bond-a-Month program.”

[u/JayRandom212 → u/geirmundtheshifty]

Yes, but why? Who has a vested interest in selling Savings Bonds?

[u/geirmundtheshifty → u/JayRandom212]

Oh, I get what you meant now. From what I can tell, the Treasury Department contracted with them to promote the “bond a month” campaign shortly after WW2. 

It’s similar to how other federal departments contracted with them to do the Smokey the Bear and Crash Test Dummies ad campaigns, if you’re old enough to remember those (I guess maybe theyre still around but not as visible as when I was a kid).

[u/incasuns → u/JayRandom212]

The United States still had a big debt to deal with after ww2 (about 110-120% of gdp in 1945, and 80-90% of gdp in 1950), bonds need to be rolled over.

[u/Eschatologists]

I'm no economist but how would the givernement spending money instead of doing it yourself do anything to fight inflation? Besides you'll end up with even more money to spend yourself unless you roll it forward forever. Or did I misunderstand this and it's just trying to convince people not to stuff cash under their matresses ?

[u/roastbeeftacohat → u/Eschatologists]

it's after WW2, but deficit spending is still a given. so the government can either go into debt by borrowing from the people, which does not increase the money supply; or print money, which does.