I'm at a loss to see how Dean is promoting austerity in that article. He
says absent other unlikely developments, government spending is the only
remedy.



On Thu, Jun 21, 2012 at 1:33 PM, Eugene Coyle <[email protected]> wrote:

> Tom,  I too can see the logic of Baker's argument -- but only looking by
> at it from a boring conventional perspective.  What's the difference
> between his logic and Larry Summers'?
>
> But what is it that you think "ain't going to happen"?
>
> That net exports will fill the demand gap?  I'd agree with you.
>
> Or that there will be a stimulus driven recovery, meanwhile, to placate
> the populous until the dollar falls in value and exports zoom?  I'd agree
> on that with you.
>
> Or, simply, that there won't be much of a recovery at all, until a new
> approach to macro policy is implemented?  I'd agree on that with you.
>
> Gene
>
>
>
> On Jun 20, 2012, at 7:04 PM, Tom Walker wrote:
>
> > Two points: 1. I can see the logic of Dean's argument. 2. It ain't gonna
> to happen.
> >
> > On Wed, Jun 20, 2012 at 6:57 PM, Eugene Coyle <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > In a Counterpunch article on June 20th, Dean Baker seems to recommend
> austerity as the long term solution to the recession:
> >
> >
> >
> > > The Recession Politicians Don't Want to Talk About
> > > The Real Story of the Housing Crash
> > > by DEAN BAKER
> > > The economy is certain to occupy center stage in the presidential race
> this fall. Unfortunately neither Governor Romney nor President Obama are
> likely to give us an accurate account of the economic problems we are now
> facing.
> >
> >
> > < snip >
> >
> > After describing a huge drop in demand as the result of the collapse of
> the housing bubble, Baker says that the government is the only remaining
> source of demand to fill the gap.  But then he turns to austerity for the
> longer term:
> >
> > > Over a longer term we can expect that net exports will fill the demand
> gap. If we bring our huge trade deficit close to balance by selling more
> abroad and importing less it will provide a substantial boost to demand.
> However this will require that the dollar fall in value relative to the
> currencies of our trading partners, making U.S. products more competitive.
> That is a process that will take time. With many of trading partners also
> in severe slumps, we cannot expect any major improvement in our trade
> balance in the immediate future.
> >
> >
> > What is that but austerity?
> >
> > Gene
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Tom Walker (Sandwichman)
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>
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