Inflation for the Long-Run
Jim Hamilton points to his Phillips curve relation, which is forecasting deflation over the near-term. For the long-run, he suggests we should look to the fiscal theory of the price level:
The value of the new Federal Reserve liabilities ultimately will be determined by the long-term fiscal soundness of the U.S. government….Inflation is not something you should be afraid of for 2010. But what we need is a convincing commitment from the government to both near-term stimulus and longer-term fiscal responsibility in order to be assured that it’s not a concern over the next decade.
And that’s not what I’m seeing from the U.S. Congress.
Meanwhile, Thomas Frank contemplates an evil plot to stick it to the gold bugs: putting Fort Knox on eBay. Not that it would work, but there is a certain irony in those who fear inflation taking refuge in the one real asset that is potentially the most vulnerable to a surge in supply from central banks and governments.
posted on 21 January 2010 by skirchner
in Economics, Financial Markets, Fiscal Policy, Gold, Monetary Policy
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Fund manager John Hussman likewise agrees that the primary determinant of inflation is not monetary policy but fiscal policy.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 01/21 at 05:10 PM