May 2007

A Brief History of the 1987 Stock Market Crash with a Discussion of the Federal Reserve Response

Mark Carlson

Abstract:

The 1987 stock market crash was a major systemic shock. Not only did the prices of many financial assets tumble, but market functioning was severely impaired. This paper reviews the events surrounding the crash and discusses the response of the Federal Reserve, which responded in a number of ways to support the operation of financial markets, including the provision of liquidity, in a highly visible fashion.

Full Paper (Screen Reader Version)

Keywords: Lender of last resort, financial stability, Federal Reserve, stock market crash

PDF: Full Paper

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Last Update: October 19, 2020