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regulation and financial/economic crisis

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Kim AS posted on Fri, Apr 1 2011 5:07 AM

i know that in the time after the Great Depression there was a great deal of government regulations and spending. But what i wonder is this; In the time between WWII and the 70's i can not see there was any negative effects i.e. crisis, in this period of time. As i understand is this a period were government intervention in the market and so on was at is highest peak. Should not this have been a period of ongoing crises because of government intervention? 

 

As i understand the economy was deregulated and so on from late 60's early 70's, and after that we have had alot more crisis in the economy and the financial markets, with recessions every eight years or so.

 

Is this the actual case or am i missing some crucial points?

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Answered (Verified) bbnet replied on Fri, Apr 1 2011 6:52 AM
Verified by Kim AS

In the summer of 1971, Nixon terminated backing of the Federal Reserve Notes to gold.

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And we are not sent here by the politicians you drink with - L. Dube, rip

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Verified by Kim AS

Kim AS:
So you mean this was the cause for the downturn?

Yes, when Nixon took the US off the Gold standard in 1971, inflation went through the roof and that is the reason there were so many economic crises after the 70's. It kind of coincides with a general move towards market liberalization since the 70's, which of course makes it seems as though crises were caused by too little "regulation". But while markets in goods and services were generally liberalized post the 70's, that really didn't apply to financial markets that much - and that's where we have to look to find the cause of financial crises. In fact, regulation was added at an unprecedented rate. Also government-imposed incentives to make dangerous financial bets - moral hazard - increased dramatically, to the point where those who didn't engage in dangerous bets would be out-competed by those who did. And then we wonder why they make dangerous bets.

Not to mention that the gradual opening up of markets in developing countries since the 70's introduced instability and unforeseen risk. We saw the crumbling of communism and immense political changes all over the world, problems the pre-70's-era didn't have to deal with. The pre-70's era had another big advantage: cheap oil. Economic growth and stability is a lot harder to do during an oil crisis. I think people underestimate the importance of energy prices.

"They all look upon progressing material improvement as upon a self-acting process." - Ludwig von Mises
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Verified by Kim AS

Kim AS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93World_War_II_economic_expansion

 

This is what i am talking about. John: Could not find anything about this in the videoes you posted.

So you're looking for an Austrian explanation of the post war boom?  Like I said, it's tangentially related (and at the least alluded to) in Wood's discussions on the Depression, New Deal, and the War.  But here's more discussion/info:

The Crisis That Wasn't

How Do Austrians Explain the Post-WW2 Economy?

Postwar Booms

Where did post WW2 savings come from?

Keynesians Can't Predict

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This thread is partially related to your question...and Tom Woods talks a lot on this...

 

The New Deal: History, Economics, and Law

The Economics of the New Deal and World War II

Thomas E. Woods: The Truth About American History (10) (specifically "The Great Depression, World War II, and American Prosperity, Part 1 & 2")

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Answered (Verified) bbnet replied on Fri, Apr 1 2011 6:52 AM
Verified by Kim AS

In the summer of 1971, Nixon terminated backing of the Federal Reserve Notes to gold.

We are the soldiers for righteousness
And we are not sent here by the politicians you drink with - L. Dube, rip

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93World_War_II_economic_expansion

 

This is what i am talking about. John: Could not find anything about this in the videoes you posted.

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So you mean this was the cause for the downturn?

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Verified by Kim AS

Kim AS:
So you mean this was the cause for the downturn?

Yes, when Nixon took the US off the Gold standard in 1971, inflation went through the roof and that is the reason there were so many economic crises after the 70's. It kind of coincides with a general move towards market liberalization since the 70's, which of course makes it seems as though crises were caused by too little "regulation". But while markets in goods and services were generally liberalized post the 70's, that really didn't apply to financial markets that much - and that's where we have to look to find the cause of financial crises. In fact, regulation was added at an unprecedented rate. Also government-imposed incentives to make dangerous financial bets - moral hazard - increased dramatically, to the point where those who didn't engage in dangerous bets would be out-competed by those who did. And then we wonder why they make dangerous bets.

Not to mention that the gradual opening up of markets in developing countries since the 70's introduced instability and unforeseen risk. We saw the crumbling of communism and immense political changes all over the world, problems the pre-70's-era didn't have to deal with. The pre-70's era had another big advantage: cheap oil. Economic growth and stability is a lot harder to do during an oil crisis. I think people underestimate the importance of energy prices.

"They all look upon progressing material improvement as upon a self-acting process." - Ludwig von Mises
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Verified by Kim AS

Kim AS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post%E2%80%93World_War_II_economic_expansion

 

This is what i am talking about. John: Could not find anything about this in the videoes you posted.

So you're looking for an Austrian explanation of the post war boom?  Like I said, it's tangentially related (and at the least alluded to) in Wood's discussions on the Depression, New Deal, and the War.  But here's more discussion/info:

The Crisis That Wasn't

How Do Austrians Explain the Post-WW2 Economy?

Postwar Booms

Where did post WW2 savings come from?

Keynesians Can't Predict

  • | Post Points: 25
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