Social psychology precipitates economic depressions Don't blame Martin Van Buren for America's first deflationary depression. Social mood rode higher in the saddle than did our 8th President, who only stood 5' 6". Elected in 1836, by the time Van Buren assumed office in March 1837 a speculative bubble had burst and a banking crisis was at hand (sound familiar?) -- the national mood had turned south and the "Panic of 1837" followed. Van Buren was known as "The Little Magician," but he could not pull an economic recovery out of the hat. He met defeat seeking a second term. America's first deflationary depression lasted until 1842. Van Buren blamed over-zealous business practices and a … [Read more...]
Quadrillion Dollar Debt: ‘Day of Reckoning’ Looms
What Will Happen as $1,000,000,000,000,000 in Global Debt Winds Down? By Elliott Wave International The biggest balloon in the world is deflating. This balloon had been inflated with a quadrillion (1015) dollars, which is to say: This balloon was filled not with air but with debt from around the globe. What will happen as this global debt winds down? In two words: Deflationary Depression -- the likes of which could be unprecedented in history. A thousand trillion in debt can't be wished away or swept under the rug. No one can "forgive" the debt. The consequences of unwinding this debt could be as massive as the dollar figure itself. … [Read more...]
