Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, has died at the age of 100, his family announced on Monday.

Greenspan led the Fed for nearly 19 years, from 1987 to 2006, overseeing a period of economic expansion from the end of the Cold War through the dot-com bubble of 2001.

Critics, however, argue that his policies — including low interest rates and deregulation — laid the groundwork for the 2008 global financial crisis. Greenspan's tenure is often scrutinized for allegedly fostering risky lending practices and asset bubbles.

His wife, NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell, said in a statement: "He was a giant of a man who helped shape the US economy for decades under presidents of both parties, but was always honest in acknowledging his mistakes. To me, he was my husband, who shaped my life from our very first date in 1984. He had 'irrational exuberance' for baseball, the Washington Commanders, tennis, golf and music, especially jazz."

Greenspan's death reopens debate over his controversial legacy: while some credit him with steering the US through prosperous times, others blame his laissez-faire approach for one of the worst economic crises in modern history.

Source: www.dw.com