What can we learn from Japan

A friend of mine sent me this 2008 video of Richard Koo from Nomura Research Institute in which he presents his theory of “balance sheet recessions”. Mr Koo has been consistent with this message, with his presentation appearing in 2009 and 2010, and consistency is something I respect.

Summary

Mr Koo makes the case that in the type of crisis we are in – one in which the private sector is not willing to borrow and are actually paying down their debt – monetary policy is pretty much useless. The only effective tool are sustained public stimulus over a long period of time, not a series of small or big ones as we come out and come back in recession. He argues that there is no need to worry about inflation and higher interest rate, even with increasing fiscal spending, the reason being that banks will be happier to lend the money to the government and earn interest, than not lend money at all i.e. destroying money.

My opinion

I agree with Mr. Koo on his analysis of balance sheet recessions. But I think there are important cultural and political parameters for his solution to be viable in each geography (US, Europe, Asia):

  1. Debts must be repayable (including the government’s). If we are in a generalized Ponzi territory where we borrow to pay interest, hoping for assets to increase in value faster than debt, then it’s game over. I have high doubts about debts being repayable, but let’s assume they are.
  2. Economic agents must convincingly show they are doing their best to pay back their debt (and not hope that somehow they will be able to have someone pay for them). If they don’t, creditors will look for the exit and grab what they can before their promises become worthless.
  3. Savers must trust the public funds allocation process. This is probably the most important and challenging part and we must be creative about this. Good options to research IMHO to re-build trust that saved money lent to the Government will not be wasted: participatory budgeting or direct lending from savers to Government with specific projects people can invest in.

Traditional economy vs. Knowledge economy

I started this list of opposites to articulate the transition from our traditional economy to the knowledge economy. The knowledge economy is becoming increasingly important, but let’s not kid ourselves, it has still a long way to go to overtake the traditional economy. Although this transition will accelerate further, the two economies will cohabit for a long time and people will have to work/play in both, but an increasing number of people will be able to thrive by being only part of the knowledge economy.

Please suggest yours in the comments.

Industrial economy Knowledge economy
Ownership Attribution
Exchange Gift
Selling, borrowing Sharing
Money Reputation
Promises Accomplishments
Banking Thanking
Scarcity Abundance
Push Pull, Filter out
Privacy Publicy
Closed Open
Control Freedom
Power Influence
Demand: how many want something. Supplied: how many got something (ex. # of video views)
Distribution/Attention AttentionIntention
Mass-produced Unique
Consumers Designers
Chinese factories Home molecular assembler
South American farms Farmscrapers
Job Passion
Work Play
Buying Making
GDP Happiness index
Unemployment Retirement
Government Governance
Nations Communities
Taxes ?