The Federal Reserve has been “printing money” on a massive
scale for the last several years in support of various stimulus programs; a process they now call Quantitive Easing, or QE.
Keynesian theory allows that spending, even deficit spending, results in
economic growth. And this has actually been the case during various periods in
the 20th century. For example, increased spending during World War
II resulted in a post-war economic boom. Keynesian theory supporters can point
to several other examples.
However, according to the Federal Reserve;
"QE did not dramatically increase bank loans and the growth of broader monetary
aggregates."
What makes the current situation different? - Economic growth is dependent on the utility of debt.
However, according to the Federal Reserve;
"QE did not dramatically increase bank loans and the growth of broader monetary
aggregates."
What makes the current situation different? - Economic growth is dependent on the utility of debt.
Let us consider the famous Widget
Company. Say the Widget Company manufactures 100 widgets a day. They can take
out a loan to buy additional or better equipment to increase their output to
500 widgets a day. Obviously then, the ability of the company to borrow money
has some utility. If every dollar borrowed enables the company to earn more
than a dollar, the Utility of Debt is said to be greater than 1.
Extrapolated to the entire economy, the same general
principle applies. Historically every dollar created by the Federal Reserve has
resulted in more than one dollar in increased economic activity. But there is a
limit. Eventually a point is reached where the new dollar creates less than one
dollar in new economic activity. This point was reached somewhere in the
1950’s.
Debt Phase Transition is the term applied when the creation
of a new dollar actually causes a contraction of economic activity. We have
recently reached that point. We have reached a point of debt
saturation. No amount of money creation (money printing) can cause economic
recovery. Furthermore, the increase in money supply only makes the problem
worse since each new dollar actually decreases activity.
The only possible solution is the reduction of debt, and this can happen in only three possible ways – 1.) Repay the debt, 2.) Default the debt, and 3.) Erase the debt through hyperinflation.
The only possible solution is the reduction of debt, and this can happen in only three possible ways – 1.) Repay the debt, 2.) Default the debt, and 3.) Erase the debt through hyperinflation.
It should be obvious that neither of the first two
possibilities will ever happen. (If you do not agree, please see upcoming posts
for proof.)
This leaves only hyperinflation. The massive amounts of
money being put into the system has not caused inflation yet because it isn’t being used. Money Velocity is very low. (See chart below). But this money still exists, along with huge
amounts that has been transferred out of the country because of our multi-decade
trade imbalance. All of these excess dollars constitute a large reservoir that
will flood the economy when the holders of these dollars decide to exchange
them for something else – a process that has already begun.