Nouriel Roubini: The Financial Times recently interviewed economist Nouriel Roubini regarding the current US housing market problem and the potential for an extended US recession. Roubini addresses the outlook of the US economy, mortgages, potential policy action—The Frank-Dodd bill, Fed policy, and the outlook of financial markets.
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A “fire hose, not [a] feather duster” is needed for Republican Party reform, even if it means taking risks. ++ The Fed’s task should be limited to stopping inflation; the financial system also needs overhaul. ++ The GOP, meanwhile, should target changing the tax code while taking control of the health-care debate. ++ Republicans have lost their ideals of spending discipline and need to return to
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Despite warnings of their imminent collapse, with the help of US government, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be able to survive and stock market panic can be avoided. ++ Since the two companies have $5.3 trillion in liabilities, the Fed will need to step in if they become insolvent or consequences could be dire. ++ Their survival, however, is not necessarily good news: governmental intervention
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Former Fed chairman, Paul Volcker, blames this year’s financial crisis on the lenders’ and investors’ attempting to revise the age-old fundaments of finance. ++ Despite the euphoric effect of bubbles, parties involved in the financial system must remember that the further a rubber band is stretched, the harder it will snap back into its former position. ++ Credit rating
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The Fed is undermining global confidence by flooding the economy with new dollars while it should in fact be pursuing direct and targeted intervention. ++ Since US global purchasing power is used for humanitarian, economic or military purposes, a further fall of the dollar will damage US political influence. ++ The rise of transactions in Euros neuters US ability to control financial flows to
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The differences in transatlantic mortgage systems are causing the Fed and the ECB to deal with housing crisis in contrasting ways. ++ While the Fed keeps cutting interest rates to make up for the huge losses in capital of US banks, the EU is focusing on inflation control. ++ The Fed’s mandate is to guarantee financial and monetary stability - a commitment which may eventually require the
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