Exploring the UK government's decision to sell bonds to retail investors, potentially shrinking the money supply. Critiques on neoclassical economics and implications on market dynamics. Analysis on bonds managing inflation, retail investor engagement, and controversial moves like selling Nat West shares.
Opening government bonds to retail investors may shrink money circulation, impacting the economy negatively.
Selling off government shares to retail investors can alter the money supply, affecting liquidity and market stability.
Deep dives
Government Bond Issuance to Retail Investors
The podcast delves into the UK government's decision to allow retail investors to purchase government bonds on the primary market. By opening up this option, the government aims to attract more funds for its deficit financing. This move reflects a belief that retail investors could play a significant role in meeting the country's overall financing needs. Concerns arise from potential impacts on yields and bond values as a flood of retail investors might lead to higher bond prices, potentially affecting future payouts.
Central Bank Capacity and Bond Financing
The discussion highlights the central bank's unlimited capacity to intervene in the bond market by buying outstanding bonds. This intervention can increase reserves in the banking sector, enabling an easier bond purchase process for current deficit financing. The central bank's ability to manage asset and liability sides simultaneously allows flexibility in stabilizing the bond market and managing interest rates.
Risks of Retail Investors in Bond Market
The podcast warns about the complexities and risks associated with retail investors participating in the bond market. Retail investors face challenges in understanding bond dynamics, such as yield variations, inflation impact, and bond price volatility. Engaging in long-dated bonds poses greater risks, especially when interest rates rise, leading to potential losses for investors.
Government Bonds and Money Supply Dynamics
The government's plan to divest NatWest shares to retail investors raises questions about its impact on the money supply. Such divestment could reduce the money supply as the asset swap redistributes government holdings to private investors. The potential sudden influx or outflux of funds from retail shares sales can influence the economy, impacting liquidity and market stability.
The UK Debt Office has started selling bonds to retail investors through the primary market Previously the only way you could buy government bonds was through financial institutions, through ETFs, for example. The reason giving for opening it up to consumers is that it will allow them to “contribute more significantly to meeting the overall financing requirement”. Hat makes it sound like they are concerned that there won’t be sufficient demand from institutional investors, including the banks. Steve Keen says what they probably don’t understand is this move will actually shrink the amount of money in circulation. That’s probably a bad move in a stagnant economy. To make matters worse, they ar ehell bent on selling off the government’s shareholding of the Nat West group, which will have a similar impact. Listen in to find out how and why.