Peak Government Debt

We’re in an interesting situation where most developed country governments are borrowing at a rapid rate, and their central banks are financing it.  Public old age retirement and health plans are underfunded.  Most major developed countries can’t grow rapidly, and there’s really nothing that can be done about it — competition from cheaper labor in developing countries is forcing developed country wages down.  We can’t grow out of the debt.

We wait for the tipping point.  When will investor sentiment change from believing debts will be paid in equivalent purchasing power, to believing that they will not get paid back in equivalent purchasing power terms?

Greece is past the tipping point.  Other nations in Europe teeter.  Is Japan nearing such a point?  They rejoice to see the Yen weakening as the BOJ finances the government deficit.  Be careful what you wish for, Japan — what is good in small, can become self-reinforcing if lenders lose confidence in the Japanese government.

Part of the trouble is with central banks repressing savers, deficits are considerably lower than they otherwise would be because short bond yields are low.  If rates rose, deficits would begin to rise gradually but distinctly in proportion to the maturity structure of the country.  That’s the tipping point.  There are only two states with an unstable equilibrium between them — government debt is trusted, and government debt is not trusted.

Now there is no simple answer here — how will the government react?

• Raise taxes dramatically?
• Cut spending dramatically?  Tell seniors that Medicare will no longer do what it used to?
• Inflate the currency?
• Default?  (Can make sense when a country does not need access to the debt markets.)
• Try to drive a debt reduction deal, like Greece has done, and Argentina sorta did.

Each situation has a different best investment.  That’s a boon to governments, or disaster would have happened already.  Doubt as to policy blunts the rush to panic.  There may be worry but they don’t know what to do.

One more note: when one nation passes the tipping point, the question will be raised on other nations.  Imagine a world where many developed nations default on their debts.  There would be few certainties and silver and gold would likely become new currencies.

These are just some musings of mine; all sorts of kooky things could happen, but the pressure to use the five reactions listed above will be considerable globally.  Prepare as best you can; this one isn’t easy.

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