Brief Bio: Born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Flowering career in construction sector (drywall taper) aborted by severe recession (1982). Received Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Western Ontario (1994). Taught as a university professor for over 20 years. I now work in the Research Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and I write this blog mainly in my spare time (it is not a part of my formal duties). I welcome comments and (constructive) criticisms. Feel free to email me if you would like to discuss issues in greater detail.

Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it. Andre Gide

Monday, December 19, 2011

The China Factor

The sovereign debt crisis in Europe has garnered most of our attention as of late. But should Europe really be our main concern? For several months now, many economists (including myself) have been casting a nervous eye over to China. Paul Krugman summarizes these concerns nicely in his NYT article today: Will China Break? Mark Gongloff earlier asked the million dollar question here: China's Shadow Banking System: The Next Subprime?  Hmm...

P.S. And what's with these stories I keep hearing about China's missing bosses? (e.g., China's Vanishing Factory Bosses). Sounds ominous, if true. We truly do live in interesting times. 

5 comments:

  1. China's banking situation is potentially a big problem. BIG.

    So is Europe.

    Hard to say which is worse.

    And the US might be the worst of all unless we reduce the growth rate of spending. But I think that we will.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The question for China is whether PBOC easing can reverse the slide in house prices. This is doubtful: once housing speculators begin to lose money, the adverse feedback loop of defaults/increased inventory/lower prices/tainted collateral/tighter lending/more defaults begins to take hold. Reducing the RRR arguably does little to arrest it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maybe they've been secretly hiding out at the North Pole?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Free sex videos free porn aways way. Home you teen sex pornhub hd free videos. Smart porn tv free sex watch nowe !

    ReplyDelete
  5. Europe has garnered most of our attention as of late. But should Europe really be our main concern? For several months now, many economists (including myself) have been casting a nervous eye over to China.  buy from china

    ReplyDelete