I'd like to order some foreign currency what is the annual cost of the effects of smoking drinking and illegal drugs in the united states Such targeted stimulus falls under the rubric “helicopter money.” QE supports asset prices. The Fed’s purchases of government bonds keeps interest rates low so return-seeking investors have to buy stocks, real estate, corporate bonds and emerging market securities that are riskier but offer potentially greater rewards. The hope is that asset price inflation creates a positive wealth effect. Helicopter money cuts out the middleman. At the extreme, the Fed could write checks directly to citizens. It operates on the basic premise that people who have more can spend more. Under this line of thinking, it would also be possible for the Fed to buy and cancel private debts.