What is the European Central Bank (ECB), and what is the Federal Reserve (Fed)?
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the Central Bank of the Euro Zone (consisting of 19 EU member states in Europe). Similarly, the U.S. Federal Reserve (or simply "Fed") is the Central Bank of the United States. "Central Banks" are not government agencies, but organizations privately owned by member banks.

How does the ECB or the Fed create money?
When the European Central Bank or the Federal Reserve buys bonds from a dealer's bank, it electronically takes possession of the bonds and, always electronically, credits the dealer's bank account with the money needed for the purchase. Where does this money come from? Nowhere. The ECB and Fed can simply create that money. It is allowed to credit accounts without having to come up with pre-existing money, effectively increasing the money supply in an effort to stimulate economic growth. Excessive money supply eventually leads to high inflation.

How much money is the European Central Bank creating right now?
Starting on March 9, 2015, the ECB is creating €60 billion per month.

How much money has the Federal Reserve creating being creating recently?
Each month in 2013, the Fed had purchased $85 billion in bonds per month as part of its attempt to stimulate the American economy, which started in late 2008. In May of 2014, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) reduced the pace of its asset purchasement program ("Quantitative Easing" or "QE") to $45 billion per month, from the previous $55 billion per month (see the Fed's Press Release of April 30, 2014). The latest round of "QE" program lasted until October 2014.

Do Central Banks print money?
No, they create money electronically. 95% of the money in circulation today is digital. Only 5% is in the form of paper bills and coins. The Federal Reserve or the ECB doesn't need to physically print banknotes in order to create money. They can (and do) create money electronically.

Worldwide advertising spending in measured media is estimated to increase by 4.6% in 2014, to reach $531 billion, The U.S. market represents 30% (161 billion) of the global advertising spending.

Sources:

• GroupM Revises Global 2014 Ad Spending Forecast To 4.6% Growth - GroupM. December 9, 2013

Quick Facts:

• "Food Stamps" are a form of food-purchasing assistance provided by the United States Government.
• Formerly called "Food Stamps Program," it is now called "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" (SNAP).
• The physical stamps have been replaced with a debit card, which can be used to purchase any type of food.
• There are over 46 million people enrolled in the program.
• The program costs taxpayers around $80 billion per year.

Sources:

• SNAP Program Data

Source:

• Lottery Sales and Transfers. North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL).

Quick Facts:

• Over 70% of pharmaceutical companies advertising expenditure is used to promote pharmaceuticals to physicians. The promotion is done through sales representatives, provision of drug samples, and various forms of "education" (promotion).
• Psychiatrists are particularly targeted because both the diagnosis and prognosis are very subjective, so the criteria for mental illness can be expanded so that nearly everyone can have one and be prescribed a drug.
• In addition, 90% of doctors writing the clinical guidelines for treating depression, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia had financial ties to drug companies.

Quick Facts:

• Antipsychotic drugs are the top-selling prescription drugs in the United States since 2008.
• The antipsychotic medication "Abilify"is the single top-selling drug in the U.S.

Quick Facts:

• Over $1 trillion per year is spent on medicines worldwide.
• The so called "pharmerging markets" (countries where the pharmaceutical market is less mature and growing more rapidly) are on the path to double their spending from $150 billion in 2010 to $300 billion in 2015, driven by economic growth and government policies.
• The "pharmerging markets" are about to become the second largest global segment, surpassing Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the U.K. combined, and approaching U.S. levels.
• The 17 high-growth pharmaceutical markets (the "pharmerging markets") are China, Brazil, Russia, India, Venezuela, Poland, Argentina, Turkey, Mexico, Vietnam, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Romania, Egypt, Pakistan and Ukraine.