Replying to Avatar Lyn Alden

The Fed has a dilemma, almost a race, between two things as they raise rates here.

1) Raising rates generally results in tighter borrowing standards on a lag. This can reduce lending-driven money creation and lead to disinflationary demand destruction around the margins.

https://void.cat/d/LciK171UhVRj6yZuNHk2u7.webp

2) At high public debt levels, raising rates also increases federal interest expense, which increases the fiscal deficit, which is a source of ongoing inflationary stimulus into the economy.

https://void.cat/d/FX7vWUrUF4kiNidN1g5PQ3.webp

In the 1940s, inflation was fiscal-driven and public debt was high.

In the 1970s, inflation was mostly lending-driven and public debt was low.

Currently, the Fed is using a 1970s-style playbook to deal with 1940s-style fiscal-driven inflation.

https://void.cat/d/CJDEwxkbWBj3zqyq4i9rW1.webp

https://void.cat/d/UQ2mm8e1cHXEjJiypg79Eu.webp

Lyn, based on what you’ve said, is the obvious playbook for todays inflation just inflict war for a rearranging of resources & IOUs, if increasing rates only exacerbates inflation? Obviously if we become more productive and cost effective that would be the ideal scenario.

What is stopping us from creating goods and services more productively today?

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