Erik Norland and Harley Bassman on Fed Policy, Volatility, MMT and Inflation

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Featuring Erik Norland and Harley Bassman

Published on: December 22nd, 2020 • Duration: 56 minutes

Erik Norland, executive director and senior economist at CME Group, joins Wall Street veteran Harley Bassman of The Convexity Maven to discuss the impact of Fed policy on volatility across a handful of assets since the pandemic and, more broadly, since the GFC. In addition to this discussion of potential unintended effects of Fed policy, they examine its failure to generate meaningful inflation in anything aside from financial assets. They also debate whether negative rates in the US are probable—or even possible—as well as why the dwindling monetary policy toolbox combined with political rhetoric seems to point towards MMT and a passing of the baton from monetary authorities to fiscal authorities at least as it relates to generating inflation. Filmed on December 16, 2020. Key Learnings: The Fed’s monetary policy has had measurable effects on markets, especially in terms of reducing volatility but has not been successful in generating inflation. The shift from monetary to fiscal policy could be what finally ushers in the period of inflation many have been predicting.