"An examination of the challenges facing Fed chair Ben Bernanke as he addresses the problems affecting the U.S. economy inherited from his predecessor, Alan Greenspan, informed by a historical look at how other central bankers have dealt with similar crises" - Provided by publisher

A formal model of the appointment process -- Estimating monetary policy preferences -- Empirically testing the model's predictions -- Appointments to the European Central Bank -- The origins of the Federal Reserve appointment process -- Conclusions