Sunday, December 27, 2015

Dollar Revaluation and Decreasing Corporate Profits, Mediocre Cyclical United States Economic Growth with GDP Two Trillion Dollars below Trend, Real Fixed Investment below Trend, Swelling Undistributed Profits, Stagnating Real Disposable Income below Trend, Financial Repression, United States Housing, World Cyclical Slow Growth and Global Recession Risk: Part VIII

 

Dollar Revaluation and Decreasing Corporate Profits, Mediocre Cyclical United States Economic Growth with GDP Two Trillion Dollars below Trend, Real Fixed Investment below Trend, Swelling Undistributed Profits, Stagnating Real Disposable Income below Trend, Financial Repression, United States Housing, World Cyclical Slow Growth and Global Recession Risk

Carlos M. Pelaez

© Carlos M. Pelaez, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

I Mediocre Cyclical United States Economic Growth with GDP Two Trillion Dollars below Trend

IA Mediocre Cyclical United States Economic Growth

IA1 Stagnating Real Private Fixed Investment

IA2 Swelling Undistributed Corporate Profits

II Stagnating Real Disposable Income and Consumption Expenditures

IB1 Stagnating Real Disposable Income and Consumption Expenditures

IB2 Financial Repression

IIA United States Housing Collapse

IIB United States House Prices

III World Financial Turbulence

IIIA Financial Risks

IIIE Appendix Euro Zone Survival Risk

IIIF Appendix on Sovereign Bond Valuation

IV Global Inflation

V World Economic Slowdown

VA United States

VB Japan

VC China

VD Euro Area

VE Germany

VF France

VG Italy

VH United Kingdom

VI Valuation of Risk Financial Assets

VII Economic Indicators

VIII Interest Rates

IX Conclusion

References

Appendixes

Appendix I The Great Inflation

IIIB Appendix on Safe Haven Currencies

IIIC Appendix on Fiscal Compact

IIID Appendix on European Central Bank Large Scale Lender of Last Resort

IIIG Appendix on Deficit Financing of Growth and the Debt Crisis

IIIGA Monetary Policy with Deficit Financing of Economic Growth

IIIGB Adjustment during the Debt Crisis of the 1980s

Appendix to Section VI Valuation of Risk Financial Assets:

The Communiqué of Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Moscow on February 16, 2013, available at the University of Toronto G20 Information Center (http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/g20/2013/2013-0216-finance.html), appears to rule out currency wars:

“Global Economy and G20 Framework for Strong, Sustainable and Balanced Growth

2. Thanks to the important policy actions in Europe, the US, Japan, and the resilience of the Chinese economy, tail risks to the global economy have receded and financial market conditions have improved. However, we recognize that important risks remain and global growth is still too weak, with unemployment remaining unacceptably high in many countries. We agree that the weak global performance derives from policy uncertainty, private deleveraging, fiscal drag, and impaired credit intermediation, as well as incomplete rebalancing of global demand. Under these circumstances, a sustained effort is required to continue building a stronger economic and monetary union in the euro area and to resolve uncertainties related to the fiscal situation in the United States and Japan, as well as to boost domestic sources of growth in surplus economies, taking into account special circumstances of large commodity producers.

3. To address the weakness of the global economy, ambitious reforms and coordinated policies are key to achieving strong, sustainable and balanced growth and restoring confidence. We will continue to implement our previous commitments, including on the financial reform agenda to build a more resilient financial system and on ambitious structural reforms to lift growth. We are committed to ensuring sustainable public finances. Advanced economies will develop credible medium-term fiscal strategies in line with the commitments made by our Leaders in Los Cabos by the St Petersburg Summit. Credible medium-term fiscal consolidation plans will be put in place, and implemented taking into account near-term economic conditions and fiscal space where available. We support action to improve the flow of credit to the economy, where necessary. Monetary policy should be directed toward domestic price stability and continuing to support economic recovery according to the respective mandates. We commit to monitor and minimize the negative spillovers on other countries of policies implemented for domestic purposes. We look forward to the results of the ongoing work on spillovers in the Framework Working Group.

4. We have adopted an assessment process on the implementation of our structural reform commitments, which will inform the direction of our future structural policies.

5. We reaffirm our commitment to cooperate for achieving a lasting reduction in global imbalances, and pursue structural reforms affecting domestic savings and improving productivity. We reiterate our commitments to move more rapidly toward more market-determined exchange rate systems and exchange rate flexibility to reflect underlying fundamentals, and avoid persistent exchange rate misalignments and in this regard, work more closely with one another so we can grow together. We reiterate that excess volatility of financial flows and disorderly movements in exchange rates have adverse implications for economic and financial stability. We will refrain from competitive devaluation. We will not target our exchange rates for competitive purposes, will resist all forms of protectionism and keep our markets open.”

The final phrases rule out “competitive devaluation” and the use of “exchange rates for competitive purposes.” What is seriously absent in this statement of intentions is monetary policy, which is precisely the mechanism by which competitive devaluations are currently implemented.

In the restatement of the liquidity trap and large-scale policies of monetary/fiscal stimulus, Krugman (1998, 162) finds:

“In the traditional open economy IS-LM model developed by Robert Mundell [1963] and Marcus Fleming [1962], and also in large-scale econometric models, monetary expansion unambiguously leads to currency depreciation. But there are two offsetting effects on the current account balance. On one side, the currency depreciation tends to increase net exports; on the other side, the expansion of the domestic economy tends to increase imports. For what it is worth, policy experiments on such models seem to suggest that these effects very nearly cancel each other out.

Krugman (1998) uses a different dynamic model with expectations that leads to similar conclusions.

The central bank could also be pursuing competitive devaluation of the national currency in the belief that it could increase inflation to a higher level and promote domestic growth and employment at the expense of growth and unemployment in the rest of the world. An essay by Chairman Bernanke in 1999 on Japanese monetary policy received attention in the press, stating that (Bernanke 2000, 165):

“Roosevelt’s specific policy actions were, I think, less important than his willingness to be aggressive and experiment—in short, to do whatever it took to get the country moving again. Many of his policies did not work as intended, but in the end FDR deserves great credit for having the courage to abandon failed paradigms and to do what needed to be done”

Quantitative easing has never been proposed by Chairman Bernanke or other economists as certain science without adverse effects. What has not been mentioned in the press is another suggestion to the Bank of Japan (BOJ) by Chairman Bernanke in the same essay that is very relevant to current events and the contentious issue of ongoing devaluation wars (Bernanke 2000, 161):

“The BOJ could probably undertake yen depreciation unilaterally; because the BOJ has a legal mandate to pursue price stability, it certainly could make a good argument that, with interest rates at zero, depreciation of the yen is the best available tool for achieving its mandated objective. Defenders of inaction on the yen claim that a large yen depreciation would therefore create serious international tensions. Whatever validity this political argument may have had at various times, it is of no relevance at the moment, for Japan has recently been urged by its most powerful allies and trading partners to weaken the yen—and refused! Moreover, the economic validity of the beggar-thy-neighbor thesis is doubtful, as depreciation creates trade—by raising home-country income—as well as diverting it. Perhaps not all those who cite the beggar-thy-neighbor thesis are aware that it had its origins in the Great Depression, when it was used as an argument against the very devaluations that ultimately proved crucial to world economic recovery. A yen trading at 100 to the dollar or less is in no one’s interest.”

Chairman Bernanke is referring to the argument by Joan Robinson based on the experience of the Great Depression that: “in times of general unemployment a game of beggar-my-neighbour is played between the nations, each one endeavouring to throw a larger share of the burden upon the others” (Robinson 1947, 156). Devaluation is one of the tools used in these policies (Robinson 1947, 157). Banking crises dominated the experience of the United States, but countries that recovered were those devaluing early such that competitive devaluations rescued many countries from a recession as strong as that in the US (see references to Ehsan Choudhri, Levis Kochin and Barry Eichengreen in Pelaez and Pelaez, Regulation of Banks and Finance (2009b), 205-9; for the case of Brazil that devalued early in the Great Depression recovering with an increasing trade balance see Pelaez, 1968, 1968b, 1972; Brazil devalued and abandoned the gold standard during crises in the historical period as shown by Pelaez 1976, Pelaez and Suzigan 1981). Beggar-my-neighbor policies did work for individual countries but the criticism of Joan Robinson was that it was not optimal for the world as a whole.

Is depreciation of the dollar the best available tool currently for achieving the dual mandate of higher inflation and lower unemployment? Bernanke (2002) finds dollar devaluation against gold to have been important in preventing further deflation in the 1930s (http://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/speeches/2002/20021121/default.htm):

“Although a policy of intervening to affect the exchange value of the dollar is nowhere on the horizon today, it's worth noting that there have been times when exchange rate policy has been an effective weapon against deflation. A striking example from U.S. history is Franklin Roosevelt's 40 percent devaluation of the dollar against gold in 1933-34, enforced by a program of gold purchases and domestic money creation. The devaluation and the rapid increase in money supply it permitted ended the U.S. deflation remarkably quickly. Indeed, consumer price inflation in the United States, year on year, went from -10.3 percent in 1932 to -5.1 percent in 1933 to 3.4 percent in 1934. The economy grew strongly, and by the way, 1934 was one of the best years of the century for the stock market. If nothing else, the episode illustrates that monetary actions can have powerful effects on the economy, even when the nominal interest rate is at or near zero, as was the case at the time of Roosevelt's devaluation.”

Should the US devalue following Roosevelt? Alternatively, has monetary policy intended devaluation? Fed policy is seeking, deliberately or as a side effect, what Irving Fisher proposed “that great depressions are curable and preventable through reflation and stabilization” (Fisher, 1933, 350). The Fed has created not only high volatility of assets but also what many countries are regarding as a competitive devaluation similar to those criticized by Nurkse (1944). Yellen (2011AS, 6) admits that Fed monetary policy results in dollar devaluation with the objective of increasing net exports, which was the policy that Joan Robinson (1947) labeled as “beggar-my-neighbor” remedies for unemployment. There is increasing unrest within the G20 and worldwide about the appreciation of exchange rates of most countries while the dollar devalues. Global coordination of policies with free riders in an institution of diverse interests such as the G20 is unlikely. Distortions of financial markets in the US and worldwide depend only on more sober evaluation of risks of unconventional policies at a body without free riders, such as the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).

Chairman Bernanke (2013Mar 25) reinterprets devaluation and recovery from the Great Depression:

“The uncoordinated abandonment of the gold standard in the early 1930s gave rise to the idea of "beggar-thy-neighbor" policies. According to this analysis, as put forth by important contemporary economists like Joan Robinson, exchange rate depreciations helped the economy whose currency had weakened by making the country more competitive internationally. Indeed, the decline in the value of the pound after 1931 was associated with a relatively early recovery from the Depression by the United Kingdom, in part because of some rebound in exports. However, according to this view, the gains to the depreciating country were equaled or exceeded by the losses to its trading partners, which became less internationally competitive--hence, ‘beggar thy neighbor.’ Economists still agree that Smoot-Hawley and the ensuing tariff wars were highly counterproductive and contributed to the depth and length of the global Depression. However, modern research on the Depression, beginning with the seminal 1985 paper by Barry Eichengreen and Jeffrey Sachs, has changed our view of the effects of the abandonment of the gold standard. Although it is true that leaving the gold standard and the resulting currency depreciation conferred a temporary competitive advantage in some cases, modern research shows that the primary benefit of leaving gold was that it freed countries to use appropriately expansionary monetary policies. By 1935 or 1936, when essentially all major countries had left the gold standard and exchange rates were market-determined, the net trade effects of the changes in currency values were certainly small. Yet the global economy as a whole was much stronger than it had been in 1931. The reason was that, in shedding the strait jacket of the gold standard, each country became free to use monetary policy in a way that was more commensurate with achieving full employment at home.”

Nurkse (1944) raised concern on the contraction of trade by competitive devaluations during the 1930s. Haberler (1937) dwelled on the issue of flexible exchange rates. Bordo and James (2001) provide perceptive exegesis of the views of Haberler (1937) and Nurkse (1944) together with the evolution of thought by Haberler. Policy coordination among sovereigns may be quite difficult in practice even if there were sufficient knowledge and sound forecasts. Friedman (1953) provided strong case in favor of a system of flexible exchange rates.

Eichengreen and Sachs (1985) argue theoretically with measurements using a two-sector model that it is possible for series of devaluations to improve the welfare of all countries. There were adverse effects of depreciation on other countries but depreciation by many countries could be beneficial for all. The important counterfactual is if depreciations by many countries would have promoted faster recovery from the Great Depression. Depreciation in the model of Eichengreen and Sachs (1985) affected domestic and foreign economies through real wages, profitability, international competitiveness and world interest rates. Depreciation causes increase in the money supply that lowers world interest rates, promoting growth of world output. Lower world interest rates could compensate contraction of output from the shift of demand away from home goods originating in neighbor’s exchange depreciation. Eichengreen and Sachs (1985, 946) conclude:

“This much, however, is clear. We do not present a blanket endorsement of the competitive devaluations of the 1930s. Though it is indisputable that currency depreciation conferred macroeconomic benefits on the initiating country, because of accompanying policies the depreciations of the 1930s had beggar-thy-neighbor effects. Though it is likely that currency depreciation (had it been even more widely adopted) would have worked to the benefit of the world as a whole, the sporadic and uncoordinated approach taken to exchange-rate policy in the 1930s tended, other things being equal, to reduce the magnitude of the benefits.”

There could major difference in the current world economy. The initiating impulse for depreciation originates in zero interest rates on the fed funds rate. The dollar is the world’s reserve currency. Risk aversion intermittently channels capital flight to the safe haven of the dollar and US Treasury securities. In the absence of risk aversion, zero interest rates induce carry trades of short positions in dollars and US debt (borrowing) together with long leveraged exposures in risk financial assets such as stocks, emerging stocks, commodities and high-yield bonds. Without risk aversion, the dollar depreciates against every currency in the world. The dollar depreciated against the euro by 39.3 percent from USD 1.1423/EUR con Jun 26, 2003 to USD 1.5914/EUR on Jun 14, 2008 during unconventional monetary policy before the global recession (Table VI-1). Unconventional monetary policy causes devaluation of the dollar relative to other currencies, which can increases net exports of the US that increase aggregate economic activity (Yellen 2011AS). The country issuing the world’s reserve currency appropriates the advantage from initiating devaluation that in policy intends to generate net exports that increase domestic output.

Pelaez and Pelaez (Regulation of Banks and Finance (2009b), 208-209) summarize the experience of Brazil as follows:

“During 1927–9, Brazil accumulated £30 million of foreign exchange of which £20 million were deposited at its stabilization fund (Pelaez 1968, 43–4). After the decline in coffee prices and the first impact of the Great Depression in Brazil, a hot money movement wiped out foreign exchange reserves. In addition, capital inflows stopped entirely. The deterioration of the terms of trade further complicated matters, as the value of exports in foreign currency declined abruptly. Because of this exchange crisis, the service of the foreign debt of Brazil became impossible. In August 1931, the federal government was forced to cancel the payment of principal on certain foreign loans. The balance of trade in 1931 was expected to yield £20 million whereas the service of the foreign debt alone amounted to £22.6 million. Part of the solution given to these problems was typical of the 1930s. In September 1931, the government of Brazil required that all foreign transactions were to be conducted through the Bank of Brazil. This monopoly of foreign exchange was exercised by the Bank of Brazil for the following three years. Export permits were granted only after the exchange derived from sales abroad was officially sold to the Bank, which in turn allocated it in accordance with the needs of the economy. An active black market in foreign exchange developed. Brazil was in the first group of countries that abandoned early the gold standard, in 1931, and suffered comparatively less from the Great Depression. The Brazilian federal government, advised by the BOE, increased taxes and reduced expenditures in 1931 to compensate a decline in custom receipts (Pelaez 1968, 40). Expenditures caused by a revolution in 1932 in the state of Sao Paulo and a drought in the northeast explain the deficit. During 1932–6, the federal government engaged in strong efforts to stabilize the budget. Apart from the deliberate efforts to balance the budget during the 1930s, the recovery in economic activity itself may have induced a large part of the reduction of the deficit (Ibid, 41). Brazil’s experience is similar to that of the United States in that fiscal policy did not promote recovery from the Great Depression.”

In remarkable anticipation in 2005, Professor Raghuram G. Rajan (2005) warned of low liquidity and high risks of central bank policy rates approaching the zero bound (Pelaez and Pelaez, Regulation of Banks and Finance (2009b), 218-9). Professor Rajan excelled in a distinguished career as an academic economist in finance and was chief economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Shefali Anand and Jon Hilsenrath, writing on Oct 13, 2013, on “India’s central banker lobbies Fed,” published in the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304330904579133530766149484?KEYWORDS=Rajan), interviewed Raghuram G. Rajan, who is the current Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, which is India’s central bank (http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/AboutusDisplay.aspx). In this interview, Rajan argues that central banks should avoid unintended consequences on emerging market economies of inflows and outflows of capital triggered by monetary policy. Portfolio reallocations induced by combination of zero interest rates and risk events stimulate carry trades that generate wide swings in world capital flows. Professor Raguram G Rajan, governor of the Reserve Bank of India, which is India’s central bank, warned about risks in high valuations of asset prices in an interview with Christopher Jeffery of Central Banking Journal on Aug 6, 2014 (http://www.centralbanking.com/central-banking-journal/interview/2358995/raghuram-rajan-on-the-dangers-of-asset-prices-policy-spillovers-and-finance-in-india). Professor Rajan demystifies in the interview “competitive easing” by major central banks as equivalent to competitive devaluation.

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced on Jan 15, 2015, the termination of its peg of the exchange rate of the Swiss franc to the euro (http://www.snb.ch/en/mmr/speeches/id/ref_20150115_tjn/source/ref_20150115_tjn.en.pdf):

“The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has decided to discontinue the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro with immediate effect and to cease foreign currency purchases associated with enforcing it.”

The SNB also lowered interest rates to nominal negative percentages (http://www.snb.ch/en/mmr/speeches/id/ref_20150115_tjn/source/ref_20150115_tjn.en.pdf):

“At the same time as discontinuing the minimum exchange rate, the SNB will be lowering the interest rate for balances held on sight deposit accounts to –0.75% from 22 January. The exemption thresholds remain unchanged. Further lowering the interest rate makes Swiss-franc investments considerably less attractive and will mitigate the effects of the decision to discontinue the minimum exchange rate. The target range for the three-month Libor is being lowered by 0.5 percentage points to between –1.25% and –0.25%.”

The Swiss franc rate relative to the euro (CHF/EUR) appreciated 18.7 percent on Jan 15, 2015. The Swiss franc rate relative to the dollar (CHF/USD) appreciated 17.7 percent. Central banks are taking measures in anticipation of the quantitative easing by the European Central Bank.

On Jan 22, 2015, the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to implement an “expanded asset purchase program” with combined asset purchases of €60 billion per month “until at least Sep 2016 (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2015/html/pr150122_1.en.html). The objective of the program is that (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2015/html/pr150122_1.en.html):

“Asset purchases provide monetary stimulus to the economy in a context where key ECB interest rates are at their lower bound. They further ease monetary and financial conditions, making access to finance cheaper for firms and households. This tends to support investment and consumption, and ultimately contributes to a return of inflation rates towards 2%.”

The President of the ECB, Mario Draghi, explains the coordination of asset purchases with NCBs (National Central Banks) of the euro area and risk sharing (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pressconf/2015/html/is150122.en.html):

“In March 2015 the Eurosystem will start to purchase euro-denominated investment-grade securities issued by euro area governments and agencies and European institutions in the secondary market. The purchases of securities issued by euro area governments and agencies will be based on the Eurosystem NCBs’ shares in the ECB’s capital key. Some additional eligibility criteria will be applied in the case of countries under an EU/IMF adjustment programme. As regards the additional asset purchases, the Governing Council retains control over all the design features of the programme and the ECB will coordinate the purchases, thereby safeguarding the singleness of the Eurosystem’s monetary policy. The Eurosystem will make use of decentralised implementation to mobilise its resources. With regard to the sharing of hypothetical losses, the Governing Council decided that purchases of securities of European institutions (which will be 12% of the additional asset purchases, and which will be purchased by NCBs) will be subject to loss sharing. The rest of the NCBs’ additional asset purchases will not be subject to loss sharing. The ECB will hold 8% of the additional asset purchases. This implies that 20% of the additional asset purchases will be subject to a regime of risk sharing.”

The President of the ECB, Mario Draghi, rejected the possibility of seigniorage in the new asset purchase program, or central bank financing of fiscal expansion (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pressconf/2015/html/is150122.en.html):

“As I just said, it would be a big mistake if countries were to consider that the presence of this programme might be an incentive to fiscal expansion. They would undermine the confidence, so it’s not directed to monetary financing at all. Actually, it’s been designed as to avoid any monetary financing.”

The President of the ECB, Mario Draghi, does not find effects of monetary policy in inflating asset prices (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pressconf/2015/html/is150122.en.html):

“On the first question, we monitor closely any potential instance of risk to financial stability. So we're very alert to that risk. So far we don't see bubbles. There may be some local episodes of certain specific markets where prices are going up fast. But to have a bubble, besides having that, one should also identify, detect an increase, dramatic increase in leverage or in bank credit, and we don't see that now. However, we, as I said, we are alert. If bubbles are of a local nature, they should be addressed by local instruments, namely macro-prudential instruments rather than by monetary policy.”

The DAX index of German equities increased 1.3 percent on Jan 22, 2015 and 2.1 percent on Jan 23, 2015. The euro depreciated from EUR 1.1611/USD (EUR 0.8613/USD) on Wed Jan 21, 2015, to EUR 1.1206/USD (EUR 0.8924/USD) on Fri Jan 23, 2015, or 3.6 percent. Yellen (2011AS, 6) admits that Fed monetary policy results in dollar devaluation with the objective of increasing net exports, which was the policy that Joan Robinson (1947) labeled as “beggar-my-neighbor” remedies for unemployment. Risk aversion erodes devaluation of the dollar.

Dan Strumpf and Pedro Nicolaci da Costa, writing on “Fed’s Yellen: Stock Valuations ‘Generally are Quite High,’” on May 6, 2015, published in the Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-yellen-cites-progress-on-bank-regulation-1430918155?tesla=y ), quote Chair Yellen at open conversation with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the IMF, finding “equity-market valuations” as “quite high” with “potential dangers” in bond valuations. The DJIA fell 0.5 percent on May 6, 2015, after the comments and then increased 0.5 percent on May 7, 2015 and 1.5 percent on May 8, 2015.

Fri May 1

Mon 4

Tue 5

Wed 6

Thu 7

Fri 8

DJIA

18024.06

-0.3%

1.0%

18070.40

0.3%

0.3%

17928.20

-0.5%

-0.8%

17841.98

-1.0%

-0.5%

17924.06

-0.6%

0.5%

18191.11

0.9%

1.5%

There are two approaches in theory considered by Bordo (2012Nov20) and Bordo and Lane (2013). The first approach is in the classical works of Milton Friedman and Anna Jacobson Schwartz (1963a, 1987) and Karl Brunner and Allan H. Meltzer (1973). There is a similar approach in Tobin (1969). Friedman and Schwartz (1963a, 66) trace the effects of expansionary monetary policy into increasing initially financial asset prices: “It seems plausible that both nonbank and bank holders of redundant balances will turn first to securities comparable to those they have sold, say, fixed-interest coupon, low-risk obligations. But as they seek to purchase these they will tend to bid up the prices of those issues. Hence they, and also other holders not involved in the initial central bank open-market transactions, will look farther afield: the banks, to their loans; the nonbank holders, to other categories of securities-higher risk fixed-coupon obligations, equities, real property, and so forth.”

The second approach is by the Austrian School arguing that increases in asset prices can become bubbles if monetary policy allows their financing with bank credit. Professor Michael D. Bordo provides clear thought and empirical evidence on the role of “expansionary monetary policy” in inflating asset prices (Bordo2012Nov20, Bordo and Lane 2013). Bordo and Lane (2013) provide revealing narrative of historical episodes of expansionary monetary policy. Bordo and Lane (2013) conclude that policies of depressing interest rates below the target rate or growth of money above the target influences higher asset prices, using a panel of 18 OECD countries from 1920 to 2011. Bordo (2012Nov20) concludes: “that expansionary money is a significant trigger” and “central banks should follow stable monetary policies…based on well understood and credible monetary rules.” Taylor (2007, 2009) explains the housing boom and financial crisis in terms of expansionary monetary policy.

Another hurdle of exit from zero interest rates is “competitive easing” that Professor Raghuram Rajan, governor of the Reserve Bank of India, characterizes as disguised “competitive devaluation” (http://www.centralbanking.com/central-banking-journal/interview/2358995/raghuram-rajan-on-the-dangers-of-asset-prices-policy-spillovers-and-finance-in-india). The fed has been considering increasing interest rates. The European Central Bank (ECB) announced, on Mar 5, 2015, the beginning on Mar 9, 2015 of its quantitative easing program denominated as Public Sector Purchase Program (PSPP), consisting of “combined monthly purchases of EUR 60 bn [billion] in public and private sector securities” (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/mopo/liq/html/pspp.en.html). Expectation of increasing interest rates in the US together with euro rates close to zero or negative cause revaluation of the dollar (or devaluation of the euro and of most currencies worldwide). US corporations suffer currency translation losses of their foreign transactions and investments (http://www.fasb.org/jsp/FASB/Pronouncement_C/SummaryPage&cid=900000010318) while the US becomes less competitive in world trade (Pelaez and Pelaez, Globalization and the State, Vol. I (2008a), Government Intervention in Globalization (2008c)). The DJIA fell 1.5 percent on Mar 6, 2015 and the dollar revalued 2.2 percent from Mar 5 to Mar 6, 2015. The euro has devalued 45.0 percent relative to the dollar from the high on Jul 15, 2008 to Dec 25, 2015.

Fri 27 Feb

Mon 3/2

Tue 3/3

Wed 3/4

Thu 3/5

Fri 3/6

USD/ EUR

1.1197

1.6%

0.0%

1.1185

0.1%

0.1%

1.1176

0.2%

0.1%

1.1081

1.0%

0.9%

1.1030

1.5%

0.5%

1.0843

3.2%

1.7%

Chair Yellen explained the removal of the word “patience” from the advanced guidance at the press conference following the FOMC meeting on Mar 18, 2015 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/mediacenter/files/FOMCpresconf20150318.pdf):

“In other words, just because we removed the word “patient” from the statement doesn’t mean we are going to be impatient. Moreover, even after the initial increase in the target funds rate, our policy is likely to remain highly accommodative to support continued progress toward our objectives of maximum employment and 2 percent inflation.”

Exchange rate volatility is increasing in response of “impatience” in financial markets with monetary policy guidance and measures:

Fri Mar 6

Mon 9

Tue 10

Wed 11

Thu 12

Fri 13

USD/ EUR

1.0843

3.2%

1.7%

1.0853

-0.1%

-0.1%

1.0700

1.3%

1.4%

1.0548

2.7%

1.4%

1.0637

1.9%

-0.8%

1.0497

3.2%

1.3%

Fri Mar 13

Mon 16

Tue 17

Wed 18

Thu 19

Fri 20

USD/ EUR

1.0497

3.2%

1.3%

1.0570

-0.7%

-0.7%

1.0598

-1.0%

-0.3%

1.0864

-3.5%

-2.5%

1.0661

-1.6%

1.9%

1.0821

-3.1%

-1.5%

Fri Apr 24

Mon 27

Tue 28

Wed 29

Thu 30

May Fri 1

USD/ EUR

1.0874

-0.6%

-0.4%

1.0891

-0.2%

-0.2%

1.0983

-1.0%

-0.8%

1.1130

-2.4%

-1.3%

1.1223

-3.2%

-0.8%

1.1199

-3.0%

0.2%

In a speech at Brown University on May 22, 2015, Chair Yellen stated (http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/yellen20150522a.htm):

“For this reason, if the economy continues to improve as I expect, I think it will be appropriate at some point this year to take the initial step to raise the federal funds rate target and begin the process of normalizing monetary policy. To support taking this step, however, I will need to see continued improvement in labor market conditions, and I will need to be reasonably confident that inflation will move back to 2 percent over the medium term. After we begin raising the federal funds rate, I anticipate that the pace of normalization is likely to be gradual. The various headwinds that are still restraining the economy, as I said, will likely take some time to fully abate, and the pace of that improvement is highly uncertain.”

The US dollar appreciated 3.8 percent relative to the euro in the week of May 22, 2015:

Fri May 15

Mon 18

Tue 19

Wed 20

Thu 21

Fri 22

USD/ EUR

1.1449

-2.2%

-0.3%

1.1317

1.2%

1.2%

1.1150

2.6%

1.5%

1.1096

3.1%

0.5%

1.1113

2.9%

-0.2%

1.1015

3.8%

0.9%

The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde, warned on Jun 4, 2015, that: (http://blog-imfdirect.imf.org/2015/06/04/u-s-economy-returning-to-growth-but-pockets-of-vulnerability/):

“The Fed’s first rate increase in almost 9 years is being carefully prepared and telegraphed. Nevertheless, regardless of the timing, higher US policy rates could still result in significant market volatility with financial stability consequences that go well beyond US borders. I weighing these risks, we think there is a case for waiting to raise rates until there are more tangible signs of wage or price inflation than are currently evident. Even after the first rate increase, a gradual rise in the federal fund rates will likely be appropriate.”

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, warned on Jun 3, 2015 that (http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pressconf/2015/html/is150603.en.html):

“But certainly one lesson is that we should get used to periods of higher volatility. At very low levels of interest rates, asset prices tend to show higher volatility…the Governing Council was unanimous in its assessment that we should look through these developments and maintain a steady monetary policy stance.”

The Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Janet L. Yellen, stated on Jul 10, 2015 that (http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/yellen20150710a.htm):

“Based on my outlook, I expect that it will be appropriate at some point later this year to take the first step to raise the federal funds rate and thus begin normalizing monetary policy. But I want to emphasize that the course of the economy and inflation remains highly uncertain, and unanticipated developments could delay or accelerate this first step. I currently anticipate that the appropriate pace of normalization will be gradual, and that monetary policy will need to be highly supportive of economic activity for quite some time. The projections of most of my FOMC colleagues indicate that they have similar expectations for the likely path of the federal funds rate. But, again, both the course of the economy and inflation are uncertain. If progress toward our employment and inflation goals is more rapid than expected, it may be appropriate to remove monetary policy accommodation more quickly. However, if progress toward our goals is slower than anticipated, then the Committee may move more slowly in normalizing policy.”

There is essentially the same view in the Testimony of Chair Yellen in delivering the Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress on Jul 15, 2015 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/yellen20150715a.htm).

At the press conference after the meeting of the FOMC on Sep 17, 2015, Chair Yellen states (http://www.federalreserve.gov/mediacenter/files/FOMCpresconf20150917.pdf 4):

“The outlook abroad appears to have become more uncertain of late, and heightened concerns about growth in China and other emerging market economies have led to notable volatility in financial markets. Developments since our July meeting, including the drop in equity prices, the further appreciation of the dollar, and a widening in risk spreads, have tightened overall financial conditions to some extent. These developments may restrain U.S. economic activity somewhat and are likely to put further downward pressure on inflation in the near term. Given the significant economic and financial interconnections between the United States and the rest of the world, the situation abroad bears close watching.”

Some equity markets fell on Fri Sep 18, 2015:

Fri Sep 11

Mon 14

Tue 15

Wed 16

Thu 17

Fri 18

DJIA

16433.09

2.1%

0.6%

16370.96

-0.4%

-0.4%

16599.85

1.0%

1.4%

16739.95

1.9%

0.8%

16674.74

1.5%

-0.4%

16384.58

-0.3%

-1.7%

Nikkei 225

18264.22

2.7%

-0.2%

17965.70

-1.6%

-1.6%

18026.48

-1.3%

0.3%

18171.60

-0.5%

0.8%

18432.27

0.9%

1.4%

18070.21

-1.1%

-2.0%

DAX

10123.56

0.9%

-0.9%

10131.74

0.1%

0.1%

10188.13

0.6%

0.6%

10227.21

1.0%

0.4%

10229.58

1.0%

0.0%

9916.16

-2.0%

-3.1%

Frank H. Knight (1963, 233), in Risk, uncertainty and profit, distinguishes between measurable risk and unmeasurable uncertainty. Chair Yellen, in a lecture on “Inflation dynamics and monetary policy,” on Sep 24, 2015 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/yellen20150924a.htm), states that (emphasis added):

· “The economic outlook, of course, is highly uncertain

· “Considerable uncertainties also surround the outlook for economic activity”

· “Given the highly uncertain nature of the outlook…”

Is there a “science” or even “art” of central banking under this extreme uncertainty in which policy does not generate higher volatility of money, income, prices and values of financial assets?

Lingling Wei, writing on Oct 23, 2015, on China’s central bank moves to spur economic growth,” published in the Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-central-bank-cuts-rates-1445601495), analyzes the reduction by the People’s Bank of China (http://www.pbc.gov.cn/ http://www.pbc.gov.cn/english/130437/index.html) of borrowing and lending rates of banks by 50 basis points and reserve requirements of banks by 50 basis points. Paul Vigna, writing on Oct 23, 2015, on “Stocks rally out of correction territory on latest central bank boost,” published in the Wall Street Journal (http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/10/23/stocks-rally-out-of-correction-territory-on-latest-central-bank-boost/), analyzes the rally in financial markets following the statement on Oct 22, 2015, by the President of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi of consideration of new quantitative measures in Dec 2015 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0814riKW25k&rel=0) and the reduction of bank lending/deposit rates and reserve requirements of banks by the People’s Bank of China on Oct 23, 2015. The dollar revalued 2.8 percent from Oct 21 to Oct 23, 2015, following the intended easing of the European Central Bank. The DJIA rose 2.8 percent from Oct 21 to Oct 23 and the DAX index of German equities rose 5.4 percent from Oct 21 to Oct 23, 2015.

Fri Oct 16

Mon 19

Tue 20

Wed 21

Thu 22

Fri 23

USD/ EUR

1.1350

0.1%

0.3%

1.1327

0.2%

0.2%

1.1348

0.0%

-0.2%

1.1340

0.1%

0.1%

1.1110

2.1%

2.0%

1.1018

2.9%

0.8%

DJIA

17215.97

0.8%

0.4%

17230.54

0.1%

0.1%

17217.11

0.0%

-0.1%

17168.61

-0.3%

-0.3%

17489.16

1.6%

1.9%

17646.70

2.5%

0.9%

Dow Global

2421.58

0.3%

0.6%

2414.33

-0.3%

-0.3%

2411.03

-0.4%

-0.1%

2411.27

-0.4%

0.0%

2434.79

0.5%

1.0%

2458.13

1.5%

1.0%

DJ Asia Pacific

1402.31

1.1%

0.3%

1398.80

-0.3%

-0.3%

1395.06

-0.5%

-0.3%

1402.68

0.0%

0.5%

1396.03

-0.4%

-0.5%

1415.50

0.9%

1.4%

Nikkei 225

18291.80

-0.8%

1.1%

18131.23

-0.9%

-0.9%

18207.15

-0.5%

0.4%

18554.28

1.4%

1.9%

18435.87

0.8%

-0.6%

18825.30

2.9%

2.1%

Shanghai

3391.35

6.5%

1.6%

3386.70

-0.1%

-0.1%

3425.33

1.0%

1.1%

3320.68

-2.1%

-3.1%

3368.74

-0.7%

1.4%

3412.43

0.6%

1.3%

DAX

10104.43

0.1%

0.4%

10164.31

0.6%

0.6%

10147.68

0.4%

-0.2%

10238.10

1.3%

0.9%

10491.97

3.8%

2.5%

10794.54

6.8%

2.9%

Ben Leubsdorf, writing on “Fed’s Yellen: December is “Live Possibility” for First Rate Increase,” on Nov 4, 2015, published in the Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/articles/feds-yellen-december-is-live-possibility-for-first-rate-increase-1446654282) quotes Chair Yellen that a rate increase in “December would be a live possibility.” The remark of Chair Yellen was during a hearing on supervision and regulation before the Committee on Financial Services, US House of Representatives (http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/yellen20151104a.htm) and a day before the release of the employment situation report for Oct 2015 (Section I). The dollar revalued 2.4 percent during the week. The euro has devalued 45.0 percent relative to the dollar from the high on Jul 15, 2008 to Dec 25, 2015.

Fri Oct 30

Mon 2

Tue 3

Wed 4

Thu 5

Fri 6

USD/ EUR

1.1007

0.1%

-0.3%

1.1016

-0.1%

-0.1%

1.0965

0.4%

0.5%

1.0867

1.3%

0.9%

1.0884

1.1%

-0.2%

1.0742

2.4%

1.3%

The release on Nov 18, 2015 of the minutes of the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) meeting held on Oct 28, 2015 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcminutes20151028.htm) states:

“Most participants anticipated that, based on their assessment of the current economic situation and their outlook for economic activity, the labor market, and inflation, these conditions [for interest rate increase] could well be met by the time of the next meeting. Nonetheless, they emphasized that the actual decision would depend on the implications for the medium-term economic outlook of the data received over the upcoming intermeeting period… It was noted that beginning the normalization process relatively soon would make it more likely that the policy trajectory after liftoff could be shallow.”

Markets could have interpreted a symbolic increase in the fed funds rate at the meeting of the FOMC on Dec 15-16, 2015 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomccalendars.htm) followed by “shallow” increases, explaining the sharp increase in stock market values and appreciation of the dollar after the release of the minutes on Nov 18, 2015:

Fri Nov 13

Mon 16

Tue 17

Wed 18

Thu 19

Fri 20

USD/ EUR

1.0774

-0.3%

0.4%

1.0686

0.8%

0.8%

1.0644

1.2%

0.4%

1.0660

1.1%

-0.2%

1.0735

0.4%

-0.7%

1.0647

1.2%

0.8%

DJIA

17245.24

-3.7%

-1.2%

17483.01

1.4%

1.4%

17489.50

1.4%

0.0%

17737.16

2.9%

1.4%

17732.75

2.8%

0.0%

17823.81

3.4%

0.5%

DAX

10708.40

-2.5%

-0.7%

10713.23

0.0%

0.0%

10971.04

2.5%

2.4%

10959.95

2.3%

-0.1%

11085.44

3.5%

1.1%

11119.83

3.8%

0.3%

In testimony before The Joint Economic Committee of Congress on Dec 3, 2015 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/testimony/yellen20151203a.htm), Chair Yellen reiterated that the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) “anticipates that even after employment and inflation are near mandate-consistent levels, economic condition may, for some time, warrant keeping the target federal funds rate below the Committee views as normal in the longer run.” Todd Buell and Katy Burne, writing on “Draghi says ECB could step up stimulus efforts if necessary,” on Dec 4, 2015, published in the Wall Street Journal (http://www.wsj.com/articles/draghi-says-ecb-could-step-up-stimulus-efforts-if-necessary-1449252934), analyze that the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, reassured financial markets that the ECB will increase stimulus if required to raise inflation the euro area to targets. The USD depreciated 3.1 percent on Thu Dec 3, 2015 after weaker than expected measures by the European Central Bank. DJIA fell 1.4 percent on Dec 3 and increased 2.1 percent on Dec 4. DAX fell 3.6 percent on Dec 3.

Fri Nov 27

Mon 30

Tue 1

Wed 2

Thu 3

Fri 4

USD/ EUR

1.0594

0.5%

0.2%

1.0565

0.3%

0.3%

1.0634

-0.4%

-0.7%

1.0616

-0.2%

0.2%

1.0941

-3.3%

-3.1%

1.0885

-2.7%

0.5%

DJIA

17798.49

-0.1%

-0.1%

17719.92

-0.4%

-0.4%

17888.35

0.5%

1.0%

17729.68

-0.4%

-0.9%

17477.67

-1.8%

-1.4%

17847.63

0.3%

2.1%

DAX

11293.76

1.6%

-0.2%

11382.23

0.8%

0.8%

11261.24

-0.3%

-1.1%

11190.02

-0.9%

-0.6%

10789.24

-4.5%

-3.6%

10752.10

-4.8%

-0.3%

At the press conference following the meeting of the FOMC on Dec 16, 2015, Chair Yellen states (http://www.federalreserve.gov/mediacenter/files/FOMCpresconf20151216.pdf page 8):

“And we recognize that monetary policy operates with lags. We would like to be able to move in a prudent, and as we've emphasized, gradual manner. It's been a long time since the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates, and I think it's prudent to be able to watch what the impact is on financial conditions and spending in the economy and moving in a timely fashion enables us to do this.”

The implication of this statement is that the state of the art is not accurate in analyzing the effects of monetary policy on financial markets and economic activity. The US dollar appreciated and equities fluctuated:

Fri Dec 11

Mon 14

Tue 15

Wed 16

Thu 17

Fri 18

USD/ EUR

1.0991

-1.0%

-0.4%

1.0993

0.0%

0.0%

1.0932

0.5%

0.6%

1.0913

0.7%

0.2%

1.0827

1.5%

0.8%

1.0868

1.1%

-0.4%

DJIA

17265.21

-3.3%

-1.8%

17368.50

0.6%

0.6%

17524.91

1.5%

0.9%

17749.09

2.8%

1.3%

17495.84

1.3%

-1.4%

17128.55

-0.8%

-2.1%

DAX

10340.06

-3.8%

-2.4%

10139.34

-1.9%

-1.9%

10450.38

-1.1%

3.1%

10469.26

1.2%

0.2%

10738.12

3.8%

2.6%

10608.19

2.6%

-1.2%

The Communiqué of the Istanbul meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on February 10, 2015, sanctions the need of unconventional monetary policy with warning on collateral effects (http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/2015/150210-finance.html):

“We agree that consistent with central banks' mandates, current economic conditions require accommodative monetary policies in some economies. In this regard, we welcome that central banks take appropriate monetary policy action. The recent policy decision by the ECB aims at fulfilling its price stability mandate, and will further support the recovery in the euro area. We also note that some advanced economies with stronger growth prospects are moving closer to conditions that would allow for policy normalization. In an environment of diverging monetary policy settings and rising financial market volatility, policy settings should be carefully calibrated and clearly communicated to minimize negative spillovers.”

Banking was important in facilitating economic growth in historical periods (Cameron 1961, 1967, 1972; Cameron et al. 1992). Banking is also important currently because small- and medium-size business may have no other form of financing than banks in contrast with many options for larger and more mature companies that have access to capital markets. Calomiris and Haber (2014) find that broad voting rights and institutions restricting coalitions of bankers and populists ensure stable banking systems and access to credit. Summerhill (2015) finds compelling evidence that sovereign credibility is insufficient to develop financial intermediation required for economic growth in the presence of inadequate political institutions.

Bernanke (2010WP) and Yellen (2011AS) reveal the emphasis of monetary policy on the impact of the rise of stock market valuations in stimulating consumption by wealth effects on household confidence. Table VI-5 shows a gain by Apr 29, 2011 in the DJIA of 14.3 percent and of the S&P 500 of 12.5 percent since Apr 26, 2010, around the time when sovereign risk issues in Europe began to be acknowledged in financial risk asset valuations. The last row of Table VI-5 for Dec 25, 2015, shows that the S&P 500 is now 70.0 percent above the Apr 26, 2010 level and the DJIA is 56.6 percent above the level on Apr 26, 2010. Multiple rounds of risk aversion eroded earlier gains, showing that risk aversion can destroy market value even with zero interest rates. Relaxed risk aversion has contributed to recovery of valuations. Much the same as zero interest rates and quantitative easing have not had any effects in recovering economic activity while distorting financial markets and resource allocation.

Table VI-5, Percentage Changes of DJIA and S&P 500 in Selected Dates

 

∆% DJIA from  prior date

∆% DJIA from
Apr 26 2010

∆% S&P 500 from prior date

∆% S&P 500 from
Apr 26 2010

Apr 26, 2010

       

May 6/10

-6.1

-6.1

-6.9

-6.9

May 26/10

-5.2

-10.9

-5.4

-11.9

Jun 8/10

-1.2

-11.3

2.1

-12.4

Jul 2/10

-2.6

-13.6

-3.8

-15.7

Aug 9/10

10.5

-4.3

10.3

-7.0

Aug 31/10

-6.4

-10.6

-6.9

-13.4

Nov 5/10

14.2

2.1

16.8

1.0

Nov 30/10

-3.8

-3.8

-3.7

-2.6

Dec 17/10

4.4

2.5

5.3

2.6

Dec 23/10

0.7

3.3

1.0

3.7

Dec 31/10

0.03

3.3

0.07

3.8

Jan 7  2011

0.8

4.2

1.1

4.9

Jan 14/11

0.9

5.2

1.7

6.7

Jan 21/11

0.7

5.9

-0.8

5.9

Jan 28/11

-0.4

5.5

-0.5

5.3

Feb 4/11

2.3

7.9

2.7

8.1

Feb 11/11

1.5

9.5

1.4

9.7

Feb 18/11

0.9

10.6

1.0

10.8

Feb 25/11

-2.1

8.3

-1.7

8.9

Mar 4/11

0.3

8.6

0.1

9.0

Mar 11/11

-1.0

7.5

-1.3

7.6

Mar 18/11

-1.5

5.8

-1.9

5.5

Mar 25/11

3.1

9.1

2.7

8.4

Apr 1/11

1.3

10.5

1.4

9.9

Apr 8/11

0.03

10.5

-0.3

9.6

Apr 15/11

-0.3

10.1

-0.6

8.9

Apr 22/11

1.3

11.6

1.3

10.3

Apr 29/11

2.4

14.3

1.9

12.5

May 6/11

-1.3

12.8

-1.7

10.6

May 13/11

-0.3

12.4

-0.2

10.4

May 20/11

-0.7

11.7

-0.3

10.0

May 27/11

-0.6

11.0

-0.2

9.8

Jun 3/11

-2.3

8.4

-2.3

7.3

Jun 10/11

-1.6

6.7

-2.2

4.9

Jun 17/11

0.4

7.1

0.04

4.9

Jun 24/11

-0.6

6.5

-0.2

4.6

Jul 1/11

5.4

12.3

5.6

10.5

Jul 8/11

0.6

12.9

0.3

10.9

Jul 15/11

-1.4

11.4

-2.1

8.6

Jul 22/11

1.6

13.2

2.2

10.9

Jul 29/11

-4.2

8.4

-3.9

6.6

Aug 05/11

-5.8

2.1

-7.2

-1.0

Aug 12/11

-1.5

0.6

-1.7

-2.7

Aug 19/11

-4.0

-3.5

-4.7

-7.3

Aug 26/11

4.3

0.7

4.7

-2.9

Sep 02

-0.4

0.3

-0.2

-3.1

Sep 09/11

-2.2

-1.9

-1.7

-4.8

Sep 16/11

4.7

2.7

5.4

0.3

Sep 23/11

-6.4

-3.9

-6.5

-6.2

Sep 30/11

1.3

-2.6

-0.4

-6.7

Oct 7/11

1.7

-0.9

2.1

-4.7

Oct 14/11

4.9

3.9

5.9

1.0

Oct 21/11

1.4

5.4

1.1

2.2

Oct 28/11

3.6

9.2

3.8

6.0

Nov 04/11

-2.0

6.9

-2.5

3.4

Nov 11/11

1.4

8.5

0.8

4.3

Nov 18/11

-2.9

5.3

-3.8

0.3

Nov 25/11

-4.8

0.2

-4.7

-4.4

Dec 02/11

7.0

7.3

7.4

2.7

Dec 09/11

1.4

8.7

0.9

3.6

Dec 16/11

-2.6

5.9

-2.8

0.6

Dec 23/11

3.6

9.7

3.7

4.4

Dec 30/11

-0.6

9.0

-0.6

3.8

Jan 6 2012

1.2

10.3

1.6

5.4

Jan 13/12

0.5

10.9

0.9

6.4

Jan 20/12

2.4

13.5

2.0

8.5

Jan 27/12

-0.5

13.0

0.1

8.6

Feb 3/12

1.6

14.8

2.2

11.0

Feb 10/12

-0.5

14.2

-0.2

10.8

Feb 17/12

1.2

15.6

1.4

12.3

Feb 24/12

0.3

15.9

0.3

12.7

Mar 2/12

0.0

15.8

0.3

13.0

Mar 9/12

-0.4

15.3

0.1

13.1

Mar 16/12

2.4

18.1

2.4

15.9

Mar 23/12

-1.1

16.7

-0.5

15.3

Mar 30/12

1.0

17.9

0.8

16.2

Apr 6/12

-1.1

16.6

-0.7

15.3

Apr 13/12

-1.6

14.7

-2.0

13.1

Apr 20/12

1.4

16.3

0.6

13.7

Apr 27/12

1.5

18.1

1.8

15.8

May 4/12

-1.4

16.4

-2.3

12.9

May 11/12

-1.7

14.4

-1.1

11.7

May 18/12

-3.5

10.4

-4.3

6.4

May 25/12

0.7

11.2

1.7

8.7

Jun 1/12

-2.7

8.2

-3.0

5.4

Jun 8/12

3.6

12.0

3.7

9.4

Jun 15/12

1.7

13.9

1.3

10.8

Jun 22/12

-1.0

12.8

-0.6

10.1

Jun 29/12

1.9

14.9

2.0

12.4

Jul 6/12

-0.8

14.0

-0.5

11.8

Jul 13/12

0.0

14.0

0.2

11.9

Jul 20/12

0.4

14.4

0.4

12.4

Jul 27/12

2.0

16.7

1.7

14.3

Aug 3/12

0.2

16.9

0.4

14.8

Aug 10/12

0.9

17.9

1.1

16.0

Aug 17/12

0.5

18.5

0.9

17.0

Aug 24/12

-0.9

17.4

-0.5

16.4

Aug 31/12

-0.5

16.8

-0.3

16.0

Sep 7/12

1.6

18.8

2.2

18.6

Sep 14/12

2.2

21.3

1.90

20.9

Sep 21/12

-0.1

21.2

-0.4

20.5

Sep 28/12

-1.0

19.9

-1.3

18.9

Oct 5/12

1.3

21.5

1.4

20.5

Oct 12/12

-2.1

18.9

-2.2

17.9

Oct 19/12

0.1

19.1

0.3

18.3

Oct 26/12

-1.8

17.0

-1.5

16.5

Nov 2/12

-0.1

16.9

0.2

16.7

Nov 9/12

-2.1

14.4

-2.4

13.8

Nov 16/12

-1.8

12.3

-1.4

12.2

Nov 23/12

3.3

16.1

3.6

16.3

Nov 30/12

0.1

16.2

0.5

16.8

Dec 7/12

1.0

17.4

0.1

17.0

Dec 14/12

-0.2

17.2

-0.3

16.6

Dec 21/12

0.4

17.7

1.2

18.0

Dec 28/12

-1.9

15.5

-1.9

15.7

Jan 4 2013

3.8

19.9

4.6

21.0

Jan 11/13

0.4

20.4

0.4

21.5

Jan 18/13

1.2

21.8

0.9

22.6

Jan 25/13

1.8

24.0

1.1

24.0

Feb 1/13

0.8

25.0

0.7

24.8

Feb 8/13

-0.1

24.9

0.3

25.2

Feb 15/13

-0.1

24.8

0.1

25.4

Feb 22/13

0.1

24.9

-0.3

25.0

Mar 1/13

0.6

25.7

0.2

25.3

Mar 8/13

2.2

28.5

2.2

28.0

Mar 15/13

0.8

29.5

0.6

28.8

Mar 22/13

0.0

29.5

-0.2

28.5

Mar 29/13

0.5

30.1

0.8

29.5

Apr 5/13

-0.1

30.0

-1.0

28.2

Apr 12/13

2.1

32.7

2.3

31.1

Apr 19/13

-2.1

29.8

-2.1

28.3

Aug 26/13

1.1

31.3

1.7

30.5

May 3/13

1.8

33.6

2.0

33.2

May 10/13

1.0

34.9

1.2

34.8

May 17/13

1.6

37.0

2.1

37.6

May 24/13

-0.3

36.6

-1.1

36.1

May 31/13

-1.2

34.9

-1.1

34.5

Jun 7/13

0.9

36.1

0.8

35.6

Jun 14/13

-1.2

34.5

-0.9

34.4

Jun 21/13

-1.8

32.1

-2.2

31.4

Jun 28/13

0.7

33.1

0.9

32.5

Jul 5/13

1.5

35.1

1.6

34.6

Jul 12/13

2.2

38.0

3.0

38.6

Jul 19/13

0.5

38.7

0.7

39.6

Jul 26/13

0.1

38.9

0.0

39.6

Aug 2/13

0.6

39.7

1.1

41.1

Aug 9/13

-1.5

37.7

-1.1

39.6

Aug 16/13

-2.2

34.6

-2.1

36.6

Aug 23/13

-0.5

34.0

0.5

37.2

Aug 30/13

-1.3

32.2

-1.8

34.7

Sep 6/13

0.8

33.2

1.4

36.6

Sep 13/13

3.0

37.2

2.0

39.3

Sep 20/13

0.5

37.9

1.3

41.1

Sep 27/13

-1.2

36.2

-1.1

39.6

Oct 4/13

-1.2

34.5

-0.1

39.5

Oct 11/13

1.1

36.0

0.8

40.5

Oct 18/13

1.1

37.4

2.4

43.9

Oct 25/13

1.1

39.0

0.9

45.2

Nov 1/13

0.3

39.4

0.1

45.3

Nov 8/13

0.9

40.7

0.5

46.1

Nov 15/13

1.3

42.5

1.6

48.4

Nov 22/13

0.6

43.4

0.4

48.9

Nov 29/13

0.1

43.6

0.1

49.0

Dec 6/13

-0.4

43.0

0.0

48.9

Dec 13/13

-1.7

40.6

-1.6

46.5

Dec 20/13

3.0

44.8

2.4

50.0

Dec 27/13

1.6

47.1

1.3

51.9

Jan 3, 2014

-0.1

47.0

-0.5

79.1

Jan 10/14

-0.2

46.7

0.6

52.0

Jan 17/14

0.1

46.9

-0.2

51.7

Jan 24/14

-3.5

41.7

-2.6

47.7

Jan 31/14

-1.1

40.1

-0.4

47.1

Feb 7/14

0.6

41.0

0.8

48.3

Feb 14/14

2.3

44.2

2.3

51.7

Feb 21/14

-0.3

43.7

-0.1

51.5

Feb 28/14

1.4

45.7

1.3

53.4

Mar 7/14

0.8

46.8

1.0

54.9

Mar 14/14

-2.4

43.4

-2.0

51.9

Mar 21/14

1.5

45.5

1.4

54.0

Mar 28/14

0.1

45.7

-0.5

53.3

Apr 4/14

0.5

46.5

0.4

53.9

Apr 11/14

-2.4

43.0

-2.6

49.8

Apr 17/14

2.4

46.4

2.7

53.9

Apr 25/14

-0.3

46.0

-0.1

53.7

May 2/14

0.9

47.4

1.0

55.2

May 9/14

0.4

48.0

-0.1

55.0

May 16, 14

-0.6

47.2

0.0

54.9

May 23, 14

0.7

48.2

1.2

56.8

May 30, 14

0.7

49.2

1.2

58.7

Jun 6, 14

1.2

51.0

1.3

60.8

Jun 13, 14

-0.9

49.7

-0.7

59.7

Jun 20, 14

1.0

51.2

1.4

61.9

Jun 27, 14

-0.6

50.4

-0.1

61.8

Jul 4, 14

1.3

52.3

1.2

63.8

Jul 11, 14

-0.7

51.2

-0.9

62.3

Jul 18, 14

0.9

52.6

0.5

63.2

Jul 25, 14

-0.8

51.4

0.0

63.2

Aug 1, 14

-2.8

47.2

-2.7

58.8

Aug 8, 14

0.4

47.7

0.3

59.4

Aug 15, 14

0.7

48.7

1.2

61.3

Aug 22, 14

2.0

51.7

1.7

64.1

Aug 29, 14

0.6

52.6

0.8

65.3

Sep 5, 14

0.2

52.9

0.2

65.6

Sep 12, 14

-0.9

51.6

-1.1

63.8

Sep 19, 14

1.7

54.2

1.3

65.9

Sep 26,14

-1.0

52.7

-1.4

63.6

Oct 3, 14

-0.6

51.8

-0.8

62.4

Oct 10, 14

-2.7

47.6

-3.1

57.3

Oct 17, 14

-1.0

46.2

-1.0

55.7

Oct 24, 14

2.6

50.0

4.1

62.1

Oct 31, 14

3.5

55.2

2.7

66.5

Nov 7, 14

1.1

56.8

0.7

67.6

Nov 14, 14

0.3

57.4

0.4

68.3

Nov 21,14

1.0

58.9

1.2

70.2

Nov 28, 14

0.1

59.1

0.2

70.6

Dec 5, 14

0.7

60.3

0.4

71.2

Dec 12, 14

-3.8

54.2

-3.5

65.2

Dec 19, 14

3.0

58.9

3.4

70.8

Dec 26, 2014

1.4

61.1

0.9

72.3

Jan 2, 2015

-1.2

59.2

-1.5

69.8

Jan 9, 15

-0.5

58.3

-0.7

68.7

Jan 16, 15

-1.3

56.3

-1.2

66.6

Jan 23, 15

0.9

57.7

1.6

69.3

Jan 30, 15

-2.9

53.2

-2.8

64.6

Feb 6, 15

3.8

59.1

3.0

69.6

Feb 13, 15

1.1

60.8

2.0

73.0

Feb 20, 15

0.7

61.9

0.6

74.1

Feb 27, 15

0.0

61.8

-0.3

73.6

Feb 6, 2015

-1.5

59.4

-1.6

70.9

Feb 13, 2015

-0.6

58.4

-0.9

69.4

Feb 20, 2015

2.1

61.8

2.7

73.9

Feb 27, 2015

-2.3

58.1

-2.2

70.0

Apr 03,2015

0.3

58.5

0.3

70.5

Apr 10,2015

1.7

61.2

1.7

73.4

Apr 17, 2015

-1.3

59.1

-1.0

71.7

Apr 24, 2015

1.4

61.4

1.8

74.7

May 1, 2015

-0.3

60.9

-0.4

73.9

May 8, 2015

0.9

62.3

0.4

74.6

May 15, 2015

0.4

63.1

0.3

75.1

May 22, 2015

-0.2

62.7

0.2

75.4

May 29, 2015

-1.2

60.7

-0.9

73.9

Jun 5, 2015

-0.9

59.3

-0.7

72.7

Jun 12, 2015

0.3

59.7

0.1

72.8

Jun 19, 2015

0.7

60.8

0.8

74.1

Jun 26, 2015

-0.4

60.2

-0.4

73.4

Jul 3, 2015

-1.2

58.2

-1.2

71.3

Jul 10, 2015

0.2

58.5

0.0

71.3

Jul 17, 2015

1.8

61.4

2.4

75.5

Jul 24, 2015

-2.9

56.8

-2.2

71.6

Jul 31, 2015

0.7

57.9

1.2

73.6

Aug 7, 2015

-1.8

55.0

-1.2

71.4

Aug 14, 2015

0.6

56.0

0.7

72.6

Aug 21, 2015

-5.8

46.9

-5.8

62.6

Aug 28, 2015

1.1

48.5

0.9

64.1

Sep 4, 2015

-3.2

43.7

-3.4

58.5

Sep 11, 2015

2.1

46.7

2.1

61.8

Sep 18, 2015

-0.3

46.2

-0.2

61.5

Sep 25, 2015

-0.4

45.6

-1.4

59.3

Oct 2, 2015

1.0

47.0

1.0

70.1

Oct 9, 2015

3.7

52.5

3.3

66.2

Oct 16, 2015

0.8

53.6

0.9

67.7

Oct 23, 2015

2.5

57.5

2.1

71.2

Oct 30, 2015

0.1

57.6

0.2

71.6

Nov 6, 2015

0.4

59.8

1.0

73.2

Nov 13, 2015

-3.7

53.9

-3.6

66.9

Nov 20, 2015

3.4

59.1

3.3

72.4

Nov 27, 2015

-0.1

58.8

0.0

72.4

Dec 4, 2015

0.3

59.3

0.1

72.6

Dec 11, 2015

-3.3

54.1

-3.8

66.0

Dec 18, 2015

-0.8

52.9

-0.3

65.5

Dec 23, 2015

2.5

56.6

2.8

70.0

Source:

http://professional.wsj.com/mdc/public/page/mdc_us_stocks.html?mod=mdc_topnav_2_3014

IX Conclusion. The departing theoretical framework of Bordo and Haubrich (2012DR) is the plucking model of Friedman (1964, 1988). Friedman (1988, 1) recalls, “I was led to the model in the course of investigating the direction of influence between money and income. Did the common cyclical fluctuation in money and income reflect primarily the influence of money on income or of income on money?” Friedman (1964, 1988) finds useful for this purpose to analyze the relation between expansions and contractions. Analyzing the business cycle in the United States between 1870 and 1961, Friedman (1964, 15) found that “a large contraction in output tends to be followed on the average by a large business expansion; a mild contraction, by a mild expansion.” The depth of the contraction opens up more room in the movement toward full employment (Friedman 1964, 17):

“Output is viewed as bumping along the ceiling of maximum feasible output except that every now and then it is plucked down by a cyclical contraction. Given institutional rigidities and prices, the contraction takes in considerable measure the form of a decline in output. Since there is no physical limit to the decline short of zero output, the size of the decline in output can vary widely. When subsequent recovery sets in, it tends to return output to the ceiling; it cannot go beyond, so there is an upper limit to output and the amplitude of the expansion tends to be correlated with the amplitude of the contraction.”

Kim and Nelson (1999) test the asymmetric plucking model of Friedman (1964, 1988) relative to a symmetric model using reference cycles of the NBER and find evidence supporting the Friedman model. Bordo and Haubrich (2012DR) analyze 27 cycles beginning in 1872, using various measures of financial crises while considering different regulatory and monetary regimes. The revealing conclusion of Bordo and Haubrich (2012DR, 2) is that:

“Our analysis of the data shows that steep expansions tend to follow deep contractions, though this depends heavily on when the recovery is measured. In contrast to much conventional wisdom, the stylized fact that deep contractions breed strong recoveries is particularly true when there is a financial crisis. In fact, on average, it is cycles without a financial crisis that show the weakest relation between contraction depth and recovery strength. For many configurations, the evidence for a robust bounce-back is stronger for cycles with financial crises than those without.”

The average rate of growth of real GDP in expansions after recessions with financial crises was 8 percent but only 6.9 percent on average for recessions without financial crises (Bordo 2012Sep27). Real GDP declined 12 percent in the Panic of 1907 and increased 13 percent in the recovery, consistent with the plucking model of Friedman (Bordo 2012Sep27). Bordo (2012Sep27) finds two probable explanations for the weak recovery during the current economic cycle: (1) collapse of United States housing; and (2) uncertainty originating in fiscal policy, regulation and structural changes. There are serious doubts if monetary policy is adequate to recover the economy under these conditions.

Lucas (2011May) estimates US economic growth in the long-term at 3 percent per year and about 2 percent per year in per capita terms. There are displacements from this trend caused by events such as wars and recessions but the economy grows much faster during the expansion, compensating for the contraction and maintaining trend growth over the entire cycle. Historical US GDP data exhibit remarkable growth: Lucas (2011May) estimates an increase of US real income per person by a factor of 12 in the period from 1870 to 2010. The explanation by Lucas (2011May) of this remarkable growth experience is that government provided stability and education while elements of “free-market capitalism” were an important driver of long-term growth and prosperity. Lucas sharpens this analysis by comparison with the long-term growth experience of G7 countries (US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan) and Spain from 1870 to 2010. Countries benefitted from “common civilization” and “technology” to “catch up” with the early growth leaders of the US and UK, eventually growing at a faster rate. Significant part of this catch up occurred after World War II. Lucas (2011May) finds that the catch up stalled in the 1970s. The analysis of Lucas (2011May) is that the 20-40 percent gap that developed originated in differences in relative taxation and regulation that discouraged savings and work incentives in comparison with the US. A larger welfare and regulatory state, according to Lucas (2011May), could be the cause of the 20-40 percent gap. Cobet and Wilson (2002) provide estimates of output per hour and unit labor costs in national currency and US dollars for the US, Japan and Germany from 1950 to 2000 (see Pelaez and Pelaez, The Global Recession Risk (2007), 137-44). The average yearly rate of productivity change from 1950 to 2000 was 2.9 percent in the US, 6.3 percent for Japan and 4.7 percent for Germany while unit labor costs in USD increased at 2.6 percent in the US, 4.7 percent in Japan and 4.3 percent in Germany. From 1995 to 2000, output per hour increased at the average yearly rate of 4.6 percent in the US, 3.9 percent in Japan and 2.6 percent in Germany while unit labor costs in USD fell at minus 0.7 percent in the US, 4.3 percent in Japan and 7.5 percent in Germany. There was increase in productivity growth in Japan and France within the G7 in the second half of the 1990s but significantly lower than the acceleration of 1.3 percentage points per year in the US. The key indicator of growth of real income per capita, which is what a person earns after inflation, measures long-term economic growth and prosperity. A refined concept would include real disposable income per capita, which is what a person earns after inflation and taxes.

Table IB-1 provides the data required for broader comparison of long-term and cyclical performance of the United States economy. Revisions and enhancements of United States GDP and personal income accounts by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) (http://bea.gov/iTable/index_nipa.cfm) provide important information on long-term growth and cyclical behavior. First, Long-term performance. Using annual data, US GDP grew at the average rate of 3.2 percent per year from 1929 to 2014 and at 3.2 percent per year from 1947 to 2014. Real disposable income grew at the average yearly rate of 3.2 percent from 1929 to 2014 and at 3.7 percent from 1947 to 1999. Real disposable income per capita grew at the average yearly rate of 2.0 percent from 1929 to 2014 and at 2.3 percent from 1947 to 1999. US economic growth was much faster during expansions, compensating contractions in maintaining trend growth for whole cycles. Using annual data, US real disposable income grew at the average yearly rate of 3.5 percent from 1980 to 1989 and real disposable income per capita at 2.6 percent. The US economy has lost its dynamism in the current cycle: real disposable income grew at the yearly average rate of 1.4 percent from 2006 to 2014 and real disposable income per capita at 0.6 percent. Real disposable income grew at the average rate of 1.3 percent from 2007 to 2014 and real disposable income per capita at 0.5 percent. Table IB-1 illustrates the contradiction of long-term growth with the proposition of secular stagnation (Hansen 1938, 1938, 1941 with early critique by Simons (1942). Secular stagnation would occur over long periods. Table IB-1 also provides the corresponding rates of population growth that is only marginally lower at 0.7 to 0.9 percent recently from 1.1 percent over the long-term. GDP growth fell abruptly from 2.6 percent on average from 2000 to 2006 to 1.1 percent from 2006 to 2014 and 1.0 percent from 2007 to 2014 and real disposable income growth fell from 2.9 percent on average from 2000 to 2006 to 1.4 percent from 2006 to 2014. The decline of growth of real per capita disposable income is even sharper from average 2.0 percent from 2000 to 2006 to 0.6 percent from 2006 to 2014 and 0.5 percent from 2007 to 2014 while population growth was 0.8 percent on average. Lazear and Spletzer (2012JHJul122) provide theory and measurements showing that cyclic factors explain currently depressed labor markets. This is also the case of the overall economy. Second, first four quarters of expansion. Growth in the first four quarters of expansion is critical in recovering loss of output and employment occurring during the contraction. In the first four quarters of expansion from IQ1983 to IVQ1983: GDP increased 7.8 percent, real disposable personal income 5.3 percent and real disposable income per capita 4.4 percent. In the first four quarters of expansion from IIIQ2009 to IIQ2010: GDP increased 2.7 percent, real disposable personal income 0.2 percent and real disposable income per capita decreased 0.7 percent. Third, first 25 quarters of expansion. In the expansion from IQ1983 to IQ1989: GDP grew 34.0 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 4.8 percent; real disposable income grew 29.1 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 4.2 percent; and real disposable income per capita grew 22.1 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 3.2 percent. In the expansion from IIIQ2009 to IIIQ2015: GDP grew 14.2 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 2.1 percent; real disposable income grew 12.4 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 1.9 percent; and real disposable personal income per capita grew 7.4 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 1.2 percent. Fourth, entire quarterly cycle. In the entire cycle combining contraction and expansion from IQ1980 to IQ1989: GDP grew 33.7 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 3.1 percent; real disposable personal income grew 36.6 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 3.3 percent; and real disposable personal income per capita 25.3 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 2.4 percent. In the entire cycle combining contraction and expansion from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015: GDP grew 9.4 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 1.2 percent; real disposable personal income 13.0 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 1.6 percent; and real disposable personal income per capita 6.3 percent at the annual equivalent rate of 0.8 percent. The United States grew during its history at high rates of per capita income that made its economy the largest in the world. That dynamism is disappearing. Bordo (2012 Sep27) and Bordo and Haubrich (2012DR) provide strong evidence that recoveries have been faster after deeper recessions and recessions with financial crises, casting serious doubts on the conventional explanation of weak growth during the current expansion allegedly because of the depth of the contraction of 4.2 percent from IVQ2007 to IIQ2009 and the financial crisis. The proposition of secular stagnation should explain a long-term process of decay and not the actual abrupt collapse of the economy and labor markets currently.

Table IB-1, US, GDP, Real Disposable Personal Income, Real Disposable Income per Capita and Population Long-term and in 1983-88 and 2007-2014, %

Long-term Average ∆% per Year

GDP

Population

 

1929-2014

3.2

1.1

 

1947-2014

3.2

1.2

 

1947-1999

3.6

1.3

 

1980-1989

3.5

0.9

 

2000-2014

1.7

0.9

 

2000-2006

2.6

0.9

 

2006-2014

1.1

0.8

 

2007-2014

1.0

0.8

 

Long-term

Average ∆% per Year

Real Disposable Income

Real Disposable Income per Capita

Population

1929-2014

3.2

2.0

1.1

1947-1999

3.7

2.3

1.3

2000-2014

2.1

1.2

0.9

2000-2006

2.9

2.0

0.9

2006-2014

1.4

0.6

0.8

2007-2014

1.3

0.5

0.8

Whole Cycles

Average ∆% per Year

     

1980-1989

3.5

2.6

0.9

2006-2014

1.4

0.6

0.8

2007-2014

1.3

0.5

0.8

Comparison of Cycles

# Quarters

∆%

∆% Annual Equivalent

GDP

     

I83 to IV83

I83 to IQ87

I83 to II87

I83 to III87

I83 to IV87

I83 to I88

I83 to II88

I83 to III88

I83 to IV88

I83 to I1989

4

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

7.8

23.1

24.5

25.6

27.7

28.4

30.1

30.9

32.6

34.0

7.8

5.0

5.0

4.9

5.0

4.9

4.9

4.8

4.8

4.8

RDPI

     

I83 to IV83

I83 to I87

I83 to III87

I83 to IV87

I83 to I88

I83 to II88

I83 to III88

I83 to IV88

I83 to I89

4

17

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

5.3

19.5

20.5

22.1

23.8

25.1

26.3

27.5

29.1

5.3

4.3

4.0

4.1

4.2

4.2

4.1

4.1

4.2

RDPI Per Capita

     

I83 to IV83

I83 to I87

I83 to III87

I83 to IV87

I83 to I88

I83 to II88

I83 to III88

I83 to IV88

I83 to I89

4

17

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

4.4

15.1

15.5

16.7

18.2

19.2

20.0

20.9

22.1

4.4

3.4

3.1

3.1

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.2

3.2

Whole Cycle IQ1980 to IQ1989

     

GDP

38

33.7

3.1

RDPI

38

36.6

3.3

RDPI per Capita

38

25.3

2.4

Population

38

9.0

0.9

GDP

     

III09 to II10

III09 to III15

4

25

2.7

14.2

2.7

2.1

RDPI

     

III09 to II10

III09 to III15

4

25

0.2

12.4

0.2

1.9

RDPI per Capita

     

III09 to II10

III09 to III15

4

25

-0.7

7.4

-0.7

1.2

Population

     

III09 to II10

III09 to III15

4

25

0.8

4.9

0.8

0.8

IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

30

   

GDP

31

9.4

1.2

RDPI

31

13.0

1.6

RDPI per Capita

31

6.3

0.8

Population

31

6.3

0.8

RDPI: Real Disposable Personal Income

Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis http://www.bea.gov/iTable/index_nipa.cfm

There are seven basic facts illustrating the current economic disaster of the United States:

  • GDP maintained trend growth in the entire business cycle from IQ1980 to IQI989, including contractions and expansions. GDP is well below trend in the entire business cycle from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015, including contractions and expansions
  • Per capita real disposable income exceeded trend growth in the 1980s but is substantially below trend in IIIQ2015
  • Level of employed persons increased in the 1980s but declined/stagnated into IIIQ2015
  • Level of full-time employed persons increased in the 1980s but declined/stagnated into IIIQ2015
  • Level unemployed, unemployment rate and employed part-time for economic reasons fell in the recovery from the recessions in the 1980s but not substantially in the recovery since IIIQ2009
  • Wealth of households and nonprofit organizations soared in the 1980s but stagnated in real terms into IIQ2015
  • Gross private domestic investment increased sharply from IQ1980 to IQ1989 but gross private domestic investment stagnated and private fixed investment stagnated from IVQ2007 into IIIQ2015

There is a critical issue of the United States economy will be able in the future to attain again the level of activity and prosperity of projected trend growth. Growth at trend during the entire business cycles built the largest economy in the world but there may be an adverse, permanent weakness in United States economic performance and prosperity. Table IB-2 provides data for analysis of these seven basic facts. The seven blocks of Table IB-2 are separated initially after individual discussion of each one followed by the full Table IB-2.

1. Trend Growth.

i. As shown in Table IB-2, actual GDP grew cumulatively 33.3 percent from IQ1980 to IQ1989, which is relatively close to what trend growth would have been at 32.4 percent. Real GDP grew 33.7 percent from IVQ1979 to IQ1989. Rapid growth at the average annual rate of 4.8 percent per quarter during the expansion from IQ1983 to IQ1989 erased the loss of GDP of 4.7 percent during the contractions and maintained trend growth at 3.1 percent for GDP and 3.3 percent for real disposable personal income over the entire cycle.

ii. In contrast, cumulative growth from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015 was 9.4 percent while trend growth would have been 25.7 percent. GDP in IIIQ2015 would be $18,844.7 billion (in constant dollars of 2009) if the US had grown at trend, which is higher by $2,450.5 billion than actual $16,394.2 billion. There are about two trillion dollars of GDP less than at trend, explaining the 24.3 million unemployed or underemployed equivalent to actual unemployment/underemployment of 14.6 percent of the effective labor force (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/live-possibility-of-interest-rates.html and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/labor-market-uncertainty-and-interest.html). US GDP in IIIQ2015 is 13.0 percent lower than at trend. US GDP grew from $14,991.8 billion in IVQ2007 in constant dollars to $16,394.2 billion in IIIQ2015 or 9.4 percent at the average annual equivalent rate of 1.2 percent. Cochrane (2014Jul2) estimates US GDP at more than 10 percent below trend. The US missed the opportunity to grow at higher rates during the expansion and it is difficult to catch up because growth rates in the final periods of expansions tend to decline. The US missed the opportunity for recovery of output and employment always afforded in the first four quarters of expansion from recessions. Zero interest rates and quantitative easing were not required or present in successful cyclical expansions and in secular economic growth at 3.0 percent per year and 2.0 percent per capita as measured by Lucas (2011May). There is cyclical uncommonly slow growth in the US instead of allegations of secular stagnation. There is similar behavior in manufacturing. There is classic research on analyzing deviations of output from trend (see for example Schumpeter 1939, Hicks 1950, Lucas 1975, Sargent and Sims 1977). The long-term trend is growth of manufacturing at average 3.2 percent per year from Sep 1919 to Sep 2015. Growth at 3.2 percent per year would raise the NSA index of manufacturing output from 107.6075 in Dec 2007 to 137.3600 in Sep 2015. The actual index NSA in Sep 2015 is 106.4202, which is 22.5 percent below trend. Manufacturing output grew at average 2.2 percent between Dec 1986 and Dec 2014. Using trend growth of 2.2 percent per year, the index would increase to 127.3758 in Sep 2015. The output of manufacturing at 106.4202 in Sep 2015 is 16.5 percent below trend under this alternative calculation.

The civilian labor force consists of people who are available and willing to work and who have searched for employment recently. The labor force of the US grew 9.4 percent from 142.828 million in Jan 2001 to 156.255 million in Jul 2009. The civilian labor force is 0.7 percent higher at 157.313 million in Oct 2015 than in Jul 2009, all numbers not seasonally adjusted. There is flattening of the curve of expansion of the labor force and its decline in 2010 and 2011. The ratio of the labor force of 154.871 million in Jul 2007 to the noninstitutional population of 231.958 million in Jul 2007 was 66.8 percent while the ratio of the labor force of 157.313 million in Oct 2015 to the noninstitutional population of 251.541 million in Oct 2015 was 62.5 percent. The labor force of the US in Oct 2015 corresponding to 66.8 percent of participation in the population would be 168.029 million (0.668 x 251.541). The difference between the measured labor force in Oct 2015 of 157.313 million and the labor force in Oct 2015 with participation rate of 66.8 percent (as in Jul 2007) of 168.029 million is 10.716 million. The level of the labor force in the US has stagnated and is 10.716 million lower than what it would have been had the same participation rate been maintained. Millions of people have abandoned their search for employment because they believe there are no jobs available for them. The key issue is whether the decline in participation of the population in the labor force is the result of people giving up on finding another job.

Period IQ1980 to IQ1989

 

GDP SAAR USD Billions

 

    IQ1980

6,524.9

    IQ1989

8,697.7

∆% IQ1980 to

IQ1989 (33.7 percent from IVQ1979 $6503.9 billion)

33.3

∆% Trend Growth IQ1980 to IQ1989

32.4

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

GDP SAAR USD Billions

 

    IVQ2007

14,991.8

    IIIQ2015

16,394.2

∆% IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

9.4

∆% IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015 Trend Growth

25.7

2. Real Disposable Income

i. In the entire business cycle from IQ1980 to IQ1989, as shown in Table IB-2, per capita real disposable income, or what is left per person after inflation and taxes, grew cumulatively 25.3 percent, which is close to what would have been trend growth of 20.7 percent.

ii. In contrast, in the entire business cycle from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015, per capita real disposable income increased 6.3 percent while trend growth would have been 16.6 percent. Income available after inflation and taxes is about the same as before the contraction after 25 consecutive quarters of GDP growth at mediocre rates relative to those prevailing during historical cyclical expansions. Growth of personal income during the expansion has been tepid even with the new revisions. In IVQ2012, nominal disposable personal income grew at the SAAR of 13.3 percent and real disposable personal income at 10.9 percent (Table 2.1 http://bea.gov/iTable/index_nipa.cfm). The BEA explains as follows: “Personal income in November and December was boosted by accelerated and special dividend payments to persons and by accelerated bonus payments and other irregular pay in private wages and salaries in anticipation of changes in individual income tax rates. Personal income in December was also boosted by lump-sum social security benefit payments” (page 2 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2013/pdf/pi1212.pdf pages 1-2 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2013/pdf/pi0113.pdf). The Bureau of Economic Analysis explains as (http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2013/pdf/pi0213.pdf 2-3): “The January estimate of employee contributions for government social insurance reflected the expiration of the “payroll tax holiday,” that increased the social security contribution rate for employees and self-employed workers by 2.0 percentage points, or $114.1 billion at an annual rate. For additional information, see FAQ on “How did the expiration of the payroll tax holiday affect personal income for January 2013?” at www.bea.gov. The January estimate of employee contributions for government social insurance also reflected an increase in the monthly premiums paid by participants in the supplementary medical insurance program, in the hospital insurance provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and in the social security taxable wage base.”

The increase was provided in the “fiscal cliff” law H.R. 8 American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr8eas/pdf/BILLS-112hr8eas.pdf).

In IQ2013, personal income fell at the SAAR of minus 11.4 percent; real personal income excluding current transfer receipts at minus 11.9 percent; and real disposable personal income at minus 15.9 percent (Table 14 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0615.pdf).The BEA explains as follows (page 3 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2013/pdf/pi0313.pdf):

“The February and January changes in disposable personal income (DPI) mainly reflected the effect of special factors in January, such as the expiration of the “payroll tax holiday” and the acceleration of bonuses and personal dividends to November and to December in anticipation of changes in individual tax rates.”

In IQ2014, personal income grew at 6.1 percent in nominal terms and 4.7 percent in real terms excluding current transfer receipts while nominal disposable income grew at 5.6 percent and real disposable income at 4.0 percent (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0815.pdf). In IIQ2014, personal income grew at 5.1 percent and 2.6 percent in real terms excluding current transfers. Nominal disposable income grew at 5.2 percent and at 3.0 percent in real terms (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0915.pdf). In IIIQ2014, personal income grew at 4.5 percent, real personal income excluding current transfers at 2.8 percent, nominal disposable income at 3.9 percent and real disposable personal income at 2.7 percent (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0915.pdf). In IVQ2014, personal income grew at 5.0 percent in nominal terms and at 6.0 percent in real terms excluding current transfers while nominal disposable income grew at 4.2 percent in nominal terms and at 4.7 percent in real terms (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0915.pdf). In IQ2015, nominal personal income grew at 3.4 percent and at 4.3 percent in real terms excluding current transfer receipts while nominal disposable income grew at 1.9 percent and at 3.9 percent in real terms (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0915.pdf). In IIQ2015, nominal personal income grew at 3.8 percent and at 1.5 percent in real terms excluding current transfer receipts while nominal disposable income grew at 3.4 percent and real disposable income grew at 1.2 percent (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0915.pdf). In IIIQ2015, nominal personal income grew at 4.6 percent and 3.5 percent excluding transfer receipts while nominal disposable income grew at 4.8 percent and real disposable income grew at 3.5 percent (Table 6 at http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/2015/pdf/pi0915.pdf).

Period IQ1980 to IQ1989

 

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IQ1980 Chained 2009 USD

20,241

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IQ1989 Chained 2009 USD

25,354

∆% IQ1980 to IQ1989 (25.3 percent from IVQ1979 $20,230 billion)

25.3

∆% Trend Growth

20.7

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IVQ2007 Chained 2009 USD

35,819

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IIIQ2015 Chained 2009 USD

38,086

∆% IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

6.3

∆% Trend Growth

16.6

3. Number of Employed Persons

i. As shown in Table IB-2, the number of employed persons increased over the entire business cycle from 98.527 million not seasonally adjusted (NSA) in IQ1980 to 115.844 million NSA in IQ1988 or by 17.6 percent.

ii. In contrast, during the entire business cycle the number employed stagnated from 146.334 million in IVQ2007 to 148.980 million in IIIQ2015 or by 1.8 percent higher. There are 24.3 million persons unemployed or underemployed, which is 14.6 percent of the effective labor force (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/live-possibility-of-interest-rates.html and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/labor-market-uncertainty-and-interest.html). The number employed in Oct 2015 was 149.716 million (NSA) or 2.401 million more people with jobs relative to the peak of 147.315 million in Jul 2007 while the civilian noninstitutional population of ages 16 years and over increased from 231.958 million in Jul 2007 to 251.541 million in Oct 2015 or by 19.583 million. The number employed increased 1.6 percent from Jul 2007 to Oct 2015 while the noninstitutional civilian population of ages of 16 years and over, or those available for work, increased 8.4 percent. The ratio of employment to population in Jul 2007 was 63.5 percent (147.315 million employment as percent of population of 231.958 million). The same ratio in Oct 2015 would result in 159.729 million jobs (0.635 multiplied by noninstitutional civilian population of 251.541 million). There are effectively 10.013 million fewer jobs in Oct 2015 than in Jul 2007, or 159.729 million minus 149.716 million. There is actually not sufficient job creation in merely absorbing new entrants in the labor force because of those dropping from job searches, worsening the stock of unemployed or underemployed in involuntary part-time jobs.

Period IQ1980 to IQ1989

 

Employed Millions IQ1980 NSA End of Quarter

98.527

Employed Millions IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

115.844

∆% Employed IQ1980 to IQ1989

17.6

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

Employed Millions IVQ2007 NSA End of Quarter

146.334

Employed Millions IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

148.980

∆% Employed IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

1.8

4. Number of Full-Time Employed Persons

i. As shown in Table IB-2, during the entire business cycle in the 1980s, including contractions and expansion, the number of employed full-time rose from 81.280 million NSA in IQ1980 to 94.890 million NSA in IQ1989 or 16.7 percent.

ii. In contrast, during the entire current business cycle, including contraction and expansion, the number of persons employed full-time increased from 121.042 million in IVQ2007 to 122.303 million in IIIQ2015 or 1.0 percent. The number with full-time jobs fell from a high of 123.219 million in Jul 2007 to 108.777 million in Jan 2010 or by 14.442 million. The number with full-time jobs in Oct 2015 is 122.466 million, which is lower by 0.753 million relative to the peak of 123.219 million in Jul 2007. The magnitude of the stress in US labor markets is magnified by the increase in the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States from 231.958 million in Jul 2007 to 251.541 million in Oct 2015 or by 19.583 million (http://www.bls.gov/data/) while in the same period the number of full-time jobs decreased 0.753 million. The ratio of full-time jobs of 123.219 million in Jul 2007 to civilian noninstitutional population of 231.958 million was 53.1 percent. If that ratio had remained the same, there would be 133.568 million full-time jobs with population of 251.541 million in Oct 2015 (0.531 x 251.541) or 11.102 million fewer full-time jobs relative to actual 122.466 million. There appear to be around 10 million fewer full-time jobs in the US than before the global recession while population increased around 19 million. Mediocre GDP growth is the main culprit of the fractured US labor market.

Period IQ1980 to IQ1989

 

Employed Full-time Millions IQ1980 NSA End of Quarter

81.280

Employed Full-time Millions IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

94.890

∆% Full-time Employed IQ1980 to IQ1989

16.7

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

Employed Full-time Millions IVQ2007 NSA End of Quarter

121.042

Employed Full-time Millions IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

122.303

∆% Full-time Employed IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

1.0

5. Unemployed, Unemployment Rate and Employed Part-time for Economic Reasons.

i. As shown in Table IB-2 and in the following block, in the cycle from IQ1980 to IQ1989: (a) The rate of unemployment was lower at 5.2 percent in IQ1989 relative to 6.6 percent in IQ1980. (b) The number unemployed decreased from 6.983 million in IQ1980 to 6.378 million in IQ1989 or 8.7 percent. (c) The number employed part-time for economic reasons increased 32.0 percent from 3.624 million in IQ1980 to 4.784 million in IQ1989.

ii. In contrast, in the economic cycle from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015: (a) The rate of unemployment increased from 4.8 percent in IVQ2007 to 4.9 percent in IIIQ2015. (b) The number unemployed increased 3.5 percent from 7.371 million in IVQ2007 to 7.628 million in IIIQ2015. (c) The number employed part-time for economic reasons because they could not find any other job increased 19.9 percent from 4.750 million in IVQ2007 to 5.693 million in IIIQ2015. (d) U6 Total Unemployed plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons as percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers NSA increased from 8.7 percent in IVQ2007 to 9.6 percent in IIIQ2015.

Period IQ1980 to IQ1989

 

Unemployment Rate IQ1980 NSA End of Quarter

6.6

Unemployment Rate  IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

5.2

Unemployed IQ1980 Millions NSA End of Quarter

6.983

Unemployed IQ1989 Millions NSA End of Quarter

6.378

∆%

-8.7

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons IQ1980 Millions NSA End of Quarter

3.624

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons Millions IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

4.784

∆%

32.0

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

Unemployment Rate IVQ2007 NSA End of Quarter

4.8

Unemployment Rate IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

4.9

Unemployed IVQ2007 Millions NSA End of Quarter

7.371

Unemployed IIIQ2015 Millions NSA End of Quarter

7.628

∆%

3.5

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons IVQ2007 Millions NSA End of Quarter

4.750

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons Millions IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

5,693

∆%

19.9

U6 Total Unemployed plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons as percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers NSA

 

IVQ2007

8.7

IIIQ2015

9.6

6. Wealth of Households and Nonprofit Organizations.

The comparison of net worth of households and nonprofit organizations in the entire economic cycle from IQ1980 (and from IVQ1979) to IIIQ1988 and from IVQ2007 to IIQ2015 is in Table IB-2 and the following block. The data reveal the following facts for the cycles in the 1980s:

  • IVQ1979 to IVQ1988. Net worth increased 117.6 percent from IVQ1979 to IIIQ1988, the all items CPI index increased 57.1 percent from 76.7 in Dec 1979 to 120.5 in Dec 1988 and real net worth increased 38.5 percent.
  • IQ1980 to IVQ1985. Net worth increased 65.4 percent, the all items CPI index increased 36.5 percent from 80.1 in Mar 1980 to 109.3 in Dec 1985 and real net worth increased 21.2 percent.
  • IVQ1979 to IVQ1985. Net worth increased 68.8 percent, the all items CPI index increased 42.5 percent from 76.7 in Dec 1979 to 109.3 in Dec 1985 and real net worth increased 18.5 percent.
  • IQ1980 to IIIQ1988. Net worth increased 107.9 percent, the all items CPI index increased 49.6 percent from 80.1 in Mar 1980 to 119.8 in Sep 1988 and real net worth increased 39.0 percent.
  • IQ1980 to IVQ1988. Net worth increased 113.1 percent, the all items CPI index increased 50.4 percent from 80.1 in Mar 1980 to 120.5 in Dec 1988 and real net worth increased 41.7 percent.

There is disastrous performance in the current economic cycle:

  • IVQ2007 to IIQ2015. Net worth increased 28.2 percent, the all items CPI increased 13.6 percent from 210.036 in Dec 2007 to 238.638 in Jun 2015 and real or inflation adjusted net worth increased 12.9 percent. Real estate assets adjusted for inflation fell 7.2 percent.

The explanation is partly in the sharp decline of wealth of households and nonprofit organizations and partly in the mediocre growth rates of the cyclical expansion beginning in IIIQ2009. Long-term economic performance in the United States consisted of trend growth of GDP at 3 percent per year and of per capita GDP at 2 percent per year as measured for 1870 to 2010 by Robert E Lucas (2011May). The economy returned to trend growth after adverse events such as wars and recessions. The key characteristic of adversities such as recessions was much higher rates of growth in expansion periods that permitted the economy to recover output, income and employment losses that occurred during the contractions. Over the business cycle, the economy compensated the losses of contractions with higher growth in expansions to maintain trend growth of GDP of 3 percent and of GDP per capita of 2 percent. The US maintained growth at 3.0 percent on average over entire cycles with expansions at higher rates compensating for contractions. US economic growth has been at only 2.1 percent on average in the cyclical expansion in the 25 quarters from IIIQ2009 to IIIQ2015. Boskin (2010Sep) measures that the US economy grew at 6.2 percent in the first four quarters and 4.5 percent in the first 12 quarters after the trough in the second quarter of 1975; and at 7.7 percent in the first four quarters and 5.8 percent in the first 12 quarters after the trough in the first quarter of 1983 (Professor Michael J. Boskin, Summer of Discontent, Wall Street Journal, Sep 2, 2010 http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703882304575465462926649950.html). There are new calculations using the revision of US GDP and personal income data since 1929 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) (http://bea.gov/iTable/index_nipa.cfm) and the first estimate of GDP for IIIQ2015 (http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/2015/pdf/gdp3q15_adv.pdf). The average of 7.7 percent in the first four quarters of major cyclical expansions is in contrast with the rate of growth in the first four quarters of the expansion from IIIQ2009 to IIQ2010 of only 2.7 percent obtained by diving GDP of $14,745.9 billion in IIQ2010 by GDP of $14,355.6 billion in IIQ2009 {[$14,745.9/$14,355.6 -1]100 = 2.7%], or accumulating the quarter on quarter growth rates (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/interest-rate-increase-considered.html and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/monetary-policy-designed-on-measurable.html). The expansion from IQ1983 to IVQ1985 was at the average annual growth rate of 5.9 percent, 5.4 percent from IQ1983 to IIIQ1986, 5.2 percent from IQ1983 to IVQ1986, 5.0 percent from IQ1983 to IQ1987, 5.0 percent from IQ1983 to IIQ1987, 4.9 percent from IQ1983 to IIIQ1987, 5.0 percent from IQ1983 to IVQ1987, 4.9 percent from IQ1983 to IIQ1988, 4.8 percent from IQ1983 to IIIQ1988, 4.8 percent from IQ1983 to IVQ1988, 4.8 percent from IQ1983 to IQ1989 and at 7.8 percent from IQ1983 to IVQ1983 (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/interest-rate-increase-considered.html and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/09/monetary-policy-designed-on-measurable.html). The US maintained growth at 3.0 percent on average over entire cycles with expansions at higher rates compensating for contractions. Growth at trend in the entire cycle from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015 would have accumulated to 25.7 percent. GDP in IIIQ2015 would be $18,844.7 billion (in constant dollars of 2009) if the US had grown at trend, which is higher by $2,450.5 billion than actual $16,394.2 billion. There are about two trillion dollars of GDP less than at trend, explaining the 24.3 million unemployed or underemployed equivalent to actual unemployment/underemployment of 14.6 percent of the effective labor force (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/live-possibility-of-interest-rates.html and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/labor-market-uncertainty-and-interest.html). US GDP in IIIQ2015 is 13.0 percent lower than at trend. US GDP grew from $14,991.8 billion in IVQ2007 in constant dollars to $16,394.2 billion in IIIQ2015 or 9.4 percent at the average annual equivalent rate of 1.2 percent. Cochrane (2014Jul2) estimates US GDP at more than 10 percent below trend. The US missed the opportunity to grow at higher rates during the expansion and it is difficult to catch up because growth rates in the final periods of expansions tend to decline. The US missed the opportunity for recovery of output and employment always afforded in the first four quarters of expansion from recessions. Zero interest rates and quantitative easing were not required or present in successful cyclical expansions and in secular economic growth at 3.0 percent per year and 2.0 percent per capita as measured by Lucas (2011May). There is cyclical uncommonly slow growth in the US instead of allegations of secular stagnation. There is similar behavior in manufacturing. There is classic research on analyzing deviations of output from trend (see for example Schumpeter 1939, Hicks 1950, Lucas 1975, Sargent and Sims 1977). The long-term trend is growth of manufacturing at average 3.2 percent per year from Sep 1919 to Sep 2015. Growth at 3.2 percent per year would raise the NSA index of manufacturing output from 107.6075 in Dec 2007 to 137.3600 in Sep 2015. The actual index NSA in Sep 2015 is 106.4202, which is 22.5 percent below trend. Manufacturing output grew at average 2.2 percent between Dec 1986 and Dec 2014. Using trend growth of 2.2 percent per year, the index would increase to 127.3758 in Sep 2015. The output of manufacturing at 106.4202 in Sep 2015 is 16.5 percent below trend under this alternative calculation.

Period IQ1980 to IIQ1988

 

Net Worth of Households and Nonprofit Organizations USD Millions

 

IVQ1979

IQ1980

9,047.8

9,238.6

IVQ1985

IIIQ1986

IVQ1986

IQ1987

IIQ1987

IIIQ1987

IVQ1987

IQ1988

IIQ1988

IIIQ1988

IVQ1988

15,277.2

16,290.7

16,840.2

17,494.6

17,784.0

18,195.2

18,021.9

18,459.1

18,900.1

19,209.2

19,691.1

∆ USD Billions IVQ1985

IVQ1979 to IVQ1988

IQ1980-IVQ1985

IQ1980-IIIQ1986

IQ1980-IVQ1986

IQ1980-IQ1987

IQ1980-IIQ1987

IQ1980-IIIQ1987

IQ1980-IVQ1987

IQ1980-IQ1988

IQ1980-IIQ1988

IQ1980-IIIQ1988

IQ1980-IVQ1988

+6,229.4  ∆%68.8 R∆%18.5

+10643.3  ∆%117.6 R∆%38.5

+6,038.6 ∆%65.4 R∆%21.2

+7,052.1 ∆%76.3 R∆%28.2

+7,601.6 ∆%82.3 R∆%32.1

+8,256.0 ∆%89.4 R∆%35.3

+8,545.4 ∆%92.5 R∆%35.9

+8,956.6 ∆%96.9 R∆%37.2

+8783.2 ∆%95.1 R∆%35.4

+9256.5 ∆%100.2 R∆%37.6

+9661.5 ∆%104.6 R∆%38.9

+9970.6 ∆%107.9 R∆%39.0

+10452.5 ∆%113.1 R∆%41.7

Period IVQ2007 to IQ2015

 

Net Worth of Households and Nonprofit Organizations USD Millions

 

IVQ2007

66,837.6

IIQ2015

85,712.0

∆ USD Billions

+18,874.4 ∆%28.2 R∆%12.9

Net Worth = Assets – Liabilities. R∆% real percentage change or adjusted for CPI percentage change.

Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 2015. Flow of funds, balance sheets and integrated macroeconomic accounts: second quarter 2015. Washington, DC, Federal Reserve System, Sep 18. http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/.

7. Gross Private Domestic Investment.

i. The comparison of gross private domestic investment in the entire economic cycles from IQ1980 to IQ1989 and from IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015 is in the following block and in Table IB-2. Gross private domestic investment increased from $951.6 billion in IQ1980 to $1,290.7 billion in IQ1989 or by 35.6 percent.

ii In the current cycle, gross private domestic investment increased from $2,605.2 billion in IVQ2007 to $2,823.5 billion in IIIQ2015, or 8.4 percent. Private fixed investment edged from $2,586.3 billion in IVQ2007 to $2,755.1 billion in IIIQ2015, or increase by 6.5 percent.

Period IQ1980-IQ1989

 

Gross Private Domestic Investment USD 2009 Billions

 

IQ1980

951.6

IQ1989

1290.7

∆%

35.6

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

Gross Private Domestic Investment USD Billions

 

IVQ2007

2,605.2

IIIQ2015

2,823.5

∆%

8.4

Private Fixed Investment USD 2009 Billions

 

IVQ2007

2,586.3

IIIQ2015

2,755.1

∆%

6.5

Table IB-2, US, GDP and Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita Actual and Trend Growth and Employment, 1980-1989 and 2007-2015, SAAR USD Billions, Millions of Persons and ∆%

   

Period IQ1980 to IQ1989

 

GDP SAAR USD Billions

 

    IQ1980

6,524.9

    IQ1989

8,697.7

∆% IQ1980 to

IQ1989 (33.7 percent from IVQ1979 $6503.9 billion)

33.3

∆% Trend Growth IQ1980 to IQ1989

32.4

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IQ1980 Chained 2009 USD

20,241

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IQ1989 Chained 2009 USD

25,354

∆% IQ1980 to IQ1989 (25.3 percent from IVQ1979 $20,230 billion)

25.3

∆% Trend Growth

20.7

Employed Millions IQ1980 NSA End of Quarter

98.527

Employed Millions IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

115.844

∆% Employed IQ1980 to IQ1989

17.6

Employed Full-time Millions IQ1980 NSA End of Quarter

81.280

Employed Full-time Millions IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

94.890

∆% Full-time Employed IQ1980 to IQ1989

16.7

Unemployment Rate IQ1980 NSA End of Quarter

6.6

Unemployment Rate  IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

5.2

Unemployed IQ1980 Millions NSA End of Quarter

6.983

Unemployed IQ1989 Millions NSA End of Quarter

6.378

∆%

-8.7

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons IQ1980 Millions NSA End of Quarter

3.624

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons Millions IQ1989 NSA End of Quarter

4.784

∆%

32.0

Net Worth of Households and Nonprofit Organizations USD Billions

 

IVQ1979

9,047.8

IVQ1988

19,691.1

∆ USD Billions

+10,643.3

∆% CPI Adjusted

38.5

Gross Private Domestic Investment USD 2009 Billions

 

IQ1980

951.6

IQ1989

1290.7

∆%

35.6

Period IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

 

GDP SAAR USD Billions

 

    IVQ2007

14,991.8

    IIIQ2015

16,394.2

∆% IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

9.4

∆% IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015 Trend Growth

25.7

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IVQ2007 Chained 2009 USD

35,819

Real Disposable Personal Income per Capita IIIQ2015 Chained 2009 USD

38,086

∆% IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

6.3

∆% Trend Growth

16.6

Employed Millions IVQ2007 NSA End of Quarter

146.334

Employed Millions IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

148.980

∆% Employed IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

1.8

Employed Full-time Millions IVQ2007 NSA End of Quarter

121.042

Employed Full-time Millions IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

122.303

∆% Full-time Employed IVQ2007 to IIIQ2015

1.0

Unemployment Rate IVQ2007 NSA End of Quarter

4.8

Unemployment Rate IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

4.9

Unemployed IVQ2007 Millions NSA End of Quarter

7.371

Unemployed IIIQ2015 Millions NSA End of Quarter

7.628

∆%

3.5

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons IVQ2007 Millions NSA End of Quarter

4.750

Employed Part-time Economic Reasons Millions IIIQ2015 NSA End of Quarter

5,693

∆%

19.9

U6 Total Unemployed plus all marginally attached workers plus total employed part time for economic reasons as percent of all civilian labor force plus all marginally attached workers NSA

 

IVQ2007

8.7

IIIQ2015

9.6

Net Worth of Households and Nonprofit Organizations USD Billions

 

IVQ2007

66,837.6

IIQ2015

85,712.0

∆ USD Billions

+18,874.4 ∆%28.2 R∆%12.9

Gross Private Domestic Investment USD Billions

 

IVQ2007

2,605.2

IIIQ2015

2,823.5

∆%

8.4

Private Fixed Investment USD 2009 Billions

 

IVQ2007

2,586.3

IIIQ2015

2,755.1

∆%

6.5

Note: GDP trend growth used is 3.0 percent per year and GDP per capita is 2.0 percent per year as estimated by Lucas (2011May) on data from 1870 to 2010.

Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis http://www.bea.gov/iTable/index_nipa.cfm US Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/data/. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 2015. Flow of funds, balance sheets and integrated macroeconomic accounts: second quarter 2015. Washington, DC, Federal Reserve System, Sep 18. http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/.

  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO 2014BEOFeb4) estimates potential GDP, potential labor force and potential labor productivity provided in Table IB-3. The CBO estimates average rate of growth of potential GDP from 1950 to 2014 at 3.3 percent per year. The projected path is significantly lower at 2.1 percent per year from 2015 to 2025. The legacy of the economic cycle expansion from IIIQ2009 to IIQ2015 at 2.2 percent on average is in contrast with 4.9 percent on average in the expansion from IQ1983 to IQ1989 (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/interest-rate-increase-considered.html).). Subpar economic growth may perpetuate unemployment and underemployment estimated at 24.3 million or 14.6 percent of the effective labor force in Oct 2015 (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/live-possibility-of-interest-rates.html) with much lower hiring than in the period before the current cycle (Section I and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/impact-of-monetary-policy-on-exchange.html).

Table IB-3, US, Congressional Budget Office History and Projections of Potential GDP of US Overall Economy, ∆%

 

Potential GDP

Potential Labor Force

Potential Labor Productivity*

Average Annual ∆%

     

1950-1973

4.0

1.6

2.4

1974-1981

3.3

2.5

0.8

1982-1990

3.2

1.6

1.6

1991-2001

3.2

1.3

1.9

2002-2007

2.8

0.9

1.9

2008-2014

1.4

0.5

0.9

Total 1950-2014

3.3

1.5

1.8

Projected Average Annual ∆%

     

2015-2019

2.1

0.5

1.6

2019-2025

2.2

0.6

1.6

2015-2025

2.1

0.5

1.6

*Ratio of potential GDP to potential labor force

Source: CBO (2014BEOFeb4), CBO, Key assumptions in projecting potential GDP—February 2014 baseline. Washington, DC, Congressional Budget Office, Feb 4, 2014. CBO, The budget and economic outlook: 2015 to 2025. Washington, DC, Congressional Budget Office, Jan 26, 2015.

Chart IB-1A of the Congressional Budget Office provides historical and projected potential and actual US GDP. The gap between actual and potential output closes by 2017. Potential output expands at a lower rate than historically. Growth is even weaker relative to trend.

clip_image001

Chart IB-1A, Congressional Budget Office, Estimate of Potential GDP and Gap

Source: Congressional Budget Office

https://www.cbo.gov/publication/49890

Chart IB-1 of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO 2013BEOFeb5) provides actual and potential GDP of the United States from 2000 to 2011 and projected to 2024. Lucas (2011May) estimates trend of United States real GDP of 3.0 percent from 1870 to 2010 and 2.2 percent for per capita GDP. The United States successfully returned to trend growth of GDP by higher rates of growth during cyclical expansion as analyzed by Bordo (2012Sep27, 2012Oct21) and Bordo and Haubrich (2012DR). Growth in expansions following deeper contractions and financial crises was much higher in agreement with the plucking model of Friedman (1964, 1988). The unusual weakness of growth at 2.2 percent on average from IIIQ2009 to IIQ2015 during the current economic expansion in contrast with 4.8 percent on average in the cyclical expansion from IQ1983 to IQ1989 (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/interest-rate-increase-considered.html) cannot be explained by the contraction of 4.2 percent of GDP from IVQ2007 to IIQ2009 and the financial crisis. Weakness of growth in the expansion is perpetuating unemployment and underemployment of 24.3 million or 14.6 percent of the labor force as estimated for Oct 2015 (http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/live-possibility-of-interest-rates.html). There is no exit from unemployment/underemployment and stagnating real wages because of the collapse of hiring (Section I and earlier http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/impact-of-monetary-policy-on-exchange.html). The US economy and labor markets collapsed without recovery. Abrupt collapse of economic conditions can be explained only with cyclic factors (Lazear and Spletzer 2012Jul22) and not by secular stagnation (Hansen 1938, 1939, 1941 with early dissent by Simons 1942).

clip_image002

Chart IB-1, US, Congressional Budget Office, Actual and Projections of Potential GDP, 2000-2024, Trillions of Dollars

Source: Congressional Budget Office, CBO (2013BEOFeb5). The last year in common in both projections is 2017. The revision lowers potential output in 2017 by 7.3 percent relative to the projection in 2007.

Chart IB-2 provides differences in the projections of potential output by the CBO in 2007 and more recently on Feb 4, 2014, which the CBO explains in CBO (2014Feb28).

clip_image003

Chart IB-2, Congressional Budget Office, Revisions of Potential GDP

Source: Congressional Budget Office, 2014Feb 28. Revisions to CBO’s Projection of Potential Output since 2007. Washington, DC, CBO, Feb 28, 2014.

Chart IB-3 provides actual and projected potential GDP from 2000 to 2024. The gap between actual and potential GDP disappears at the end of 2017 (CBO2014Feb4). GDP increases in the projection at 2.5 percent per year.

image

Chart IB-3, Congressional Budget Office, GDP and Potential GDP

Source: CBO (2013BEOFeb5), CBO, Key assumptions in projecting potential GDP—February 2014 baseline. Washington, DC, Congressional Budget Office, Feb 4, 2014.

© Carlos M. Pelaez, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.

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