Friday, August 6, 2010

SOS Inflation vs Deflation or Biflation?


The debate on inflation and deflation continue.


Both are looking at different perspectives. Hence, both has its own justification behind it. Some may have missed out on Biflation, a new term not many know.


If you use Japan as an example, actually they went through Biflation since 1989 to NOW 2010. The value of the house today is still around 75% lower than its peak in 1989. The Nikkei index peak at 39,000 in 1989 and now is around 9700 (after 20 years).


One of the renowned economist is Richard Koo, who said that what Japan faces is actually Balance Sheet Recession.


MyView


Actually it is not complicated, all bubble that is driven up by debt, naturally it will deflate. This is because the artifical demand when the asset prices goes up arising from over gearing. When the mass no longer can afford it, i.e. the house price or the stocks (say, the housing prices is around 15 to 20 times the household income) i.e. no longer is affordable and it is mainly arising from DEBT financing.


Hence, most assets that are artficially driven up by DEBT (not by fundamental of supply & demand), those asset class will deflate. In Japan's case, it is mainly PROPERTY and STOCKS.


However, other daily consumables did not drop, in fact increases over time, such as transport costs, cost of education, cost of medical, cost of food. This could be mainly because it is a necessity and there is genuine demand growth.


What about USA today?

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