Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Hans-Werner Sinn: How to Save the Euro - WSJ.com

GREEK MATH (2 MINUS 1 = 4): Hans-Werner Sinn: How to Save the Euro - WSJ.com

What's missing from this article is the alternative that all of the disillusioned socialized developed countries face - i.e. that the market will determine that all of them are out-of-control in terms of social spending compared to rewards for work and investment.

As such, one sees investment moving generally out of these countries and high unemployment.

So far, the lack of investment opportunities has led the banks to buy sovereign debt. But, as with Greece, the liklihood of losing principal is getting higher and higher.

With respect to the dollar, it may well be the 'real' value of the dollar that gets sacrificed.

None of these countries are modifying fiscal policies to promote growth and job creation - rather, just the opposite.

And, they are all counting on 'growth' to bale them out of their overspending and borrowing. It rather begs the credulity to argue that 2 - 1 = 4.

3 comments:

  1. Re: “With respect to the dollar, it may well be the 'real' value of the dollar that gets sacrificed.

    If the stated value, of “Federal” Reserve notes, declines enough with respect to copper and nickel, the 1946-2009 U.S. Mint nickels, composed of cupronickel alloy, could become somewhat rare in mass circulation.

    The April 20th metal value of these nickels is “$0.0626539” or 125.3% of face value, according to the “United States Circulating Coinage Intrinsic Value Table” available at Coinflation.com.

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  2. Thanks for the comment.

    Some of us remember our old silver coins (dimes, quarters, etc.).

    Rome had a history of coinage debasement.

    When one realizes that the total amount of production is not increased, only the demands upon it, the issue of inflation becomes de rigeur.

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