In a recent twitter thread I outlined why I believe the new Reg Q inflation theory can be seen as supporting post-keynesian views. However, there is a meta issue I was not able to address in such a short format.
The DSS paper argues that by putting a ceiling on bank-deposit interest rates, Regulation Q stopped the transmission of interest rate hikes (Fed funds rate), thereby breaking the primary tool of the Fed from 1965~1980 when Q became binding on bank deposit rates.
Besides the importance for understanding 1970s inflation, the meta point their paper makes can be interpreted as supporting mainstream monetary beliefs. Chiefly, that *but for* Reg Q stopping proper transmission, monetary policy was (before 1965) and later (post ~1980) working..
Myths on 1970s inflation sadly still shape the beliefs of the economists who have the ears of policymakers.
The belief interest rates “fixed” the problem rather than worsening it,
combines w an only weak acceptance of the Vietnam War/73/79 Oil shocks as prime causes, has led to decades of wasted time on “monetary policy” (read: fiddling w a single knob, interest rates) at the expense of the real economy and investment in fiscal expertise and policy
If you lack something you truly need, you are better off figuring out how to get it rather than just deciding to give up and go without. You increase supply rather than reduce your wellbeing by giving up on your demand 1/x
When it comes to inflation, oddly, popular opinion is to do the opposite. The primary policy against inflation governments turn to is to raise interest rates with the end goal of reducing the public's consumption of goods and services rather than increase production & capacity 2/
Worse still, that goal is attempted through using rate hikes to *reduce* investment, *reduce* employment, and *stifle* wages; the latter makes life less, not more, affordable for workers 3/
Imagine this is the world. There are no countries (& no world government). It is full of people making & doing things.
How do people exchange/trade?
Now imagine the people in A have carved out a country.
They create a fully chartal system (tax/tax-credits).
The "A" tax-credit unit is used to organize public goods (infrastructure, healthcare, education etc.) as well as for general use
Now imagine there are two countries, each with its own tax-credit currency.
Why would one want the other's tax credits? Presumably to buy something from the other country.
What would the accounting look like?
There is a pervasive, annoyingly simplistic, & neverending online debate: Libertarian/free market vs socialism/communism, as if these are stark choices 1/
This scene looks like it works pretty well as a "free" market. Probably don't want the gov running our restaurants. (I used to work in the restaurant scene in this alley in the financial district, San Francisco) 2/
I think most of us don't want corporations or "free market" controlling these folks tho. In other words, a military, & restaurants/ entertainment/retail, are two easy to agree on areas for most regarding gov 3/