Yeah the deflationist point of view wasn't properly expressed in that argument.
Those are the two main schools of thought in the doomsayers' camp- debt-deflation spiral or runaway inflation.
I'll put the debt-deflation point of view in an actually coherent argument- when you're talking about the largest credit bubble in the history of the world unwinding, this school of thought believes the government will be simply unable to reverse the deflation caused by the tremendous destruction of nominal wealth. Even what would have been historically outrageously inflationary policies will pale in comparison to the worldwide destruction of wealth as this bubble pops.
On the other side of the coin, people believe that since, allowed to run without limit, debt deflation would wipe out everything in a fractional reserve system, especially for debtor nations like the UK and US, the government will take any and all actions to return to inflation, and will be unable to control or pull out of their stimulative policies in order to prevent a runaway inflation scenario.
I think you are spot on there. The UK is about to get poorer as a consequence of a financial crisis. Inflation, on the other hand, is about goods prices.
Actually, I have been thinking about renaming the blog. Somehow, UK bubble is a little dated. However, I am not sure that "We get Poorer" works either.
I have no doubt Halligan is right. And the fact that CPI is still way above the BoE target says a lot.
Yes, we may have a deflationary environment but inflation, this time, is likely to be caused by a currency event - such as sterling hitting the buffers in a big, big way.
And if that occurs, and I happen to believe it will because we are run by a bunch of economic illiterates and confidence will evaporate, hyper inflation will be the result.
Guess that's why markets exist - I didn't read it that way Alice. However, Hendry was rude.
ReplyDeleteImo, ignore the 'traditional' measures, the world's wealth loss in the past 18 months is deflationary - unavoidable.
Yeah the deflationist point of view wasn't properly expressed in that argument.
ReplyDeleteThose are the two main schools of thought in the doomsayers' camp- debt-deflation spiral or runaway inflation.
I'll put the debt-deflation point of view in an actually coherent argument- when you're talking about the largest credit bubble in the history of the world unwinding, this school of thought believes the government will be simply unable to reverse the deflation caused by the tremendous destruction of nominal wealth. Even what would have been historically outrageously inflationary policies will pale in comparison to the worldwide destruction of wealth as this bubble pops.
On the other side of the coin, people believe that since, allowed to run without limit, debt deflation would wipe out everything in a fractional reserve system, especially for debtor nations like the UK and US, the government will take any and all actions to return to inflation, and will be unable to control or pull out of their stimulative policies in order to prevent a runaway inflation scenario.
Hendry 4:25 in: "I know that your head is firmly lodged somewhere"...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant
Halligan is so much more handsome.
ReplyDeleteIf they let them go on for a few minutes more, a fight would have broke out.
ReplyDeleteIDB at 15.16 Thanks for that explanation.
ReplyDeleteSo we have two scenarios:
Deflation which makes our debts worth more - we get poorer
Inflation which makes our money worth less - we get poorer
Remind me; how does more government debt and worthless script create jobs and prosperity?
ReplyDeleteWe get poorer.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you just rename this blog such, Alice ? Every post:
We get poorer.
Roll on death.
I think Hendry has made the common mistake of confusing negative growth with deflation.
ReplyDeleteRick
ReplyDeleteI think you are spot on there. The UK is about to get poorer as a consequence of a financial crisis. Inflation, on the other hand, is about goods prices.
Alice
Electro-Kevin
ReplyDeleteActually, I have been thinking about renaming the blog. Somehow, UK bubble is a little dated. However, I am not sure that "We get Poorer" works either.
Any suggestions are most welcome.
Alice
I DID suggest another name:
ReplyDeleteRoll on Death
(And I'm not talking about a macabre new deoderant here)
Rename the blog: "We're all subprime now".
ReplyDeleteA phrase coined by the late (great) Tanta on Calculated Risk blog.
Electro-Kevin,
ReplyDeleteRoll on Death - it is too dark.
We're all subprime now - potentially a good name, but perhaps for an American blog.
So, I am stuck with the dated UK bubble.
Alice
How about
ReplyDelete"UK bubble, bubble, bubble....."
?
Meant to remind you that the Titanic was unsinkabubble, bubble, bubble.
Or even "UK unsinkabubble, bubble, bubble"?
Uk burst house bubble . com ps. told you so.net
ReplyDeleteGraphs with Laughs
ReplyDeleteBecause you're such a hoot, Alice.
;-)
ReplyDeleteOr ...
Thinking the Impossibubble.
Simple to remember - "UK Bubble Popped"
ReplyDeleteA David
Jeez what a tosser that Hendry is.
ReplyDeleteI did not notice him put forward a SINGLE couterargument or anything to contradict Halligan's arguments, only insults and put-downs.
A true guttersnipe.
New Blog Name suggestion:
ReplyDelete"Alice Plays Pop!"
I have no doubt Halligan is right. And the fact that CPI is still way above the BoE target says a lot.
ReplyDeleteYes, we may have a deflationary environment but inflation, this time, is likely to be caused by a currency event - such as sterling hitting the buffers in a big, big way.
And if that occurs, and I happen to believe it will because we are run by a bunch of economic illiterates and confidence will evaporate, hyper inflation will be the result.
See Iceland.
If gordon brown was an honest man he would probably say that he would like to see inflation increase to 10-15%.
ReplyDeleteBut Haligan is right...the only price falls will be in overvalued assets only the British buy like our shoebox houses.
Japan had strong exports to keep it going through its credit crisis, we have nothing. Its going be very bad indeed.