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You are being pithy -- what exactly are you trying to say here?
by look_lookatme 11y ago
You are being pithy -- what exactly are you trying to say here?
- eli_gottlieb 11y agoNot trying to be pithy. I'm saying that in a country where 80% of the population are net-debtors[1], inflation constitutes downward wealth redistribution, whereas it would constitute upward wealth redistribution in a country (conceivable, but seemingly unlikely) in which the wealthy borrow while the poor lend. [1] -- http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/29/eight-in-10-americans-are-in-debt.html http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/29/eight-in-10-americans-are-in-...
- chillwaves 11y agoThe wealthy certainly leverage debt for their gain as much as the poor, or more so. Your logic seems to have a hole.
- nkurz 11y agoHe's saying that inflation hurts those who are owed money, and helps those who owe money. The people who are owed money are more likely to be rich. The people who owe money tend to be poor. Thus the immediate effect of inflation is to redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor. The open question is what the longer term effects of inflation will be: who benefits, and who loses, once the system again reaches equilibrium. But based on history, I think we can assume that low inflation works out well for those who already hold lots of capital.
- AnthonyMouse 11y ago> But based on history, I think we can assume that low inflation works out well for those who already hold lots of capital. Based on history, everything works out well for those who already hold lots of capital. About the only exceptions are widespread economic destruction, violent revolutions, and that thing the transistor did to "those who already hold lots of capital" but invested it in the manufacture of typewriters and carbon paper. And only the last one really helps the common people.