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I don’t have a strong opinion about tether, but it matters who gets to create money in an economy. Ideally, the judges of the money spigot should point it towar

by lifty 5y ago

I don’t have a strong opinion about tether, but it matters who gets to create money in an economy. Ideally, the judges of the money spigot should point it towards productive and beneficial long term endeavors. I also happen to think that the existing financial system is failing to do that. Addition: also the democratic principle should be kept in mind. Sovereign currencies are a resource of their respective people.

whimsicalism 5y ago
> I also happen to think that the existing financial system is failing to do that What are they currently doing wrong, in your view, and what should they be doing better? Lots of fed hate on HN nowadays. I personally think that they are doing a so-much better job than '08 and am happy that academic economists seem to at least be learning a few lessons.
- lifty 5y ago
  Well it’s clear that small companies have a much harder time obtaining credit, while huge conglomerates don’t have a problem. I also have a feeling that new money has been disproportionally funneled toward the financialized economy, instead of funding research, education or other long term focused work. Perhaps my qualms should not be attributed simply to the monetary side of things (cheap money), but also to the lack of fiscal action.
  - whimsicalism 5y ago
    Huge companies can build up trust and fail less easily, so it makes sense to me that creditors would be more willing to lend to them. If you are small, it is probably easier to get liquid capital by selling ownership stakes. As you've mentioned, I don't think deciding what industries we should focus on/invest in is within the purview of the Fed.
    - lifty 5y ago
      Since we’re talking about the collective resource of money shouldn’t we move past the reductive risk based assessment? And I’m not talking about the Fed here, they don’t create money. Banks do, and they do a strictly a risk based calculation. Hence the situation that we are now where most money is chasing other financial products. Btw, I don’t think there’s a simple solution here, and banks aren’t necessarily to blame here. They’re merely reacting to the incentive structure. To solve the problem we need deep structural changes in how we view economics. I’m one of those people that like aspects of both MMT and crypto assets. Addition: since my comment is a bit too light on practical solutions, I think we should have a decentralized way in which local communities can direct money creation towards productive long term projects that help that community. And the same can be done at the federal level for very big projects (rockets, dams, infrastructure etc)

by lifty 5y ago

whimsicalism 5y ago

> I also happen to think that the existing financial system is failing to do that What are they currently doing wrong, in your view, and what should they be doing better? Lots of fed hate on HN nowadays. I personally think that they are doing a so-much better job than '08 and am happy that academic economists seem to at least be learning a few lessons.

lifty 5y ago
Well it’s clear that small companies have a much harder time obtaining credit, while huge conglomerates don’t have a problem. I also have a feeling that new money has been disproportionally funneled toward the financialized economy, instead of funding research, education or other long term focused work. Perhaps my qualms should not be attributed simply to the monetary side of things (cheap money), but also to the lack of fiscal action.
- whimsicalism 5y ago
  Huge companies can build up trust and fail less easily, so it makes sense to me that creditors would be more willing to lend to them. If you are small, it is probably easier to get liquid capital by selling ownership stakes. As you've mentioned, I don't think deciding what industries we should focus on/invest in is within the purview of the Fed.
  - lifty 5y ago
    Since we’re talking about the collective resource of money shouldn’t we move past the reductive risk based assessment? And I’m not talking about the Fed here, they don’t create money. Banks do, and they do a strictly a risk based calculation. Hence the situation that we are now where most money is chasing other financial products. Btw, I don’t think there’s a simple solution here, and banks aren’t necessarily to blame here. They’re merely reacting to the incentive structure. To solve the problem we need deep structural changes in how we view economics. I’m one of those people that like aspects of both MMT and crypto assets. Addition: since my comment is a bit too light on practical solutions, I think we should have a decentralized way in which local communities can direct money creation towards productive long term projects that help that community. And the same can be done at the federal level for very big projects (rockets, dams, infrastructure etc)