1 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast. I'm Tom Keene, along 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: with Jonathan Ferrell and Lisa A. Brawnowitz Jailey. We bring 3 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: you insight from the best and economics, finance, investment, and 4 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:22,440 Speaker 1: international relations. To find Bloomberg Surveillance on Apple Podcast, sun Cloud, 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: Bloomberg dot Com and of course on the Bloomberg terminal. 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: This is a really important conversation. Is typically done at Davos. 7 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: It has maybe done at Jackson Hole. It has done 8 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: at world meetings where she holds holds court with profound 9 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: and original prospectives perspective, I should say on Central Asia, 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:49,240 Speaker 1: Sonny Beschlov is the rock Creek, the chief executive officer. Yes, 11 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:53,200 Speaker 1: very good on investment, expert on natural gas, but also 12 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: expert on her Iran and all of Central Asia. And 13 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: it is in crisis. It's best laws. Thank you so 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: much for joining us today. You know, back to the 15 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: nineteen fifties, the Iran Pakistan India gas pipeline. You've lived 16 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: it at the Kaibra pass uh in West Pakistan. The 17 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 1: romance of the British, the Great Game and all that 18 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: other malarkey. Is China going to come in and take 19 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: over the vacuum of the Iran Pakistan India pipeline is 20 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: the US exits um Uh. You always go straight to 21 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: the to the point of the matter. And it is 22 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: really interesting as you set up studied these natural gas 23 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: pipelines going through all the way in Asia but also 24 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: in Europe. And no question that your politics is always 25 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: more important than the physical aspect of these things. China 26 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: is seeing avoid you know, we saw the Russians losing Afghanistan. 27 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: We saw us pulling out as we speak. And no 28 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: question that the Chinese are seeing big void um and uh. 29 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: And they will take advantage because they will need a 30 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: lot of energy to continue their growth and they know 31 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: that natural is part of that solution to their coal problems. 32 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: Our core memory here is cobalt in Africa. How the 33 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: Chinese came in and worked out long term contracts on 34 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: obscure minerals. How will they work with the Taliban? Will 35 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: it be the same method long term contracts with some 36 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: things on the back end that maybe we'll give them 37 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: an advantage you know. Um again, I'm not an expert 38 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: on on working with the Taliban, but um, I think 39 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: what we're seeing this time around is that the economic 40 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,920 Speaker 1: um thinking on the Taliban side is not something that 41 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: is clear at this the rest of the world. They 42 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 1: are not a group that worked closely with the World Bank, 43 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: or with multilateral institutions, or with eight organizations, so we 44 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 1: have no idea how they will really behave when it 45 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: comes to having international agreements, if any, and to sticking 46 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,399 Speaker 1: to it. So those I would not really um think 47 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: about relying on. I think the question is where does 48 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: the pipeline go. It doesn't have to go to Afghanistan. 49 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: In the meantime, as Fanny. As Fanny, we are looking 50 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: at a Jackson Hole that has a very big effect 51 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: potentially at least on the international community, at least the 52 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: international community that does fall within the international banking world. 53 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 1: There is a question of whether any kind of taper 54 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: announcement would affect the international community, arguably more than even 55 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: domestic markets in the United States. What do you think 56 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: You're so right, Lisa. I think the whole international point 57 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: of Jackson Hall has been a little bit diminished in 58 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: the last few weeks and people have not been talking 59 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: about it. I think a lot of people are disappointed 60 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: not to be there in person and for it to 61 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: be virtual. But um, I mean my own thinking is 62 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: that UM is that tapering is not going to start 63 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: in um UM in this meeting, and I don't think 64 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: that that j PAL is going to UM go there 65 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: at this meeting. Is more likely in November December. But 66 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: no question, the conversations that usually take UH take part 67 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: in Jackson Hall at the margins are going to be 68 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: the ones that will decide in terms of how the 69 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: central bankers are communicating with each other, not just to 70 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: the rest of the world. And those are the ones 71 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: that I would watch for. And again I don't think 72 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 1: that they will be talking about it too much about 73 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 1: us papering at this particular meeting this Friday. Okay, so 74 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: let's say you're correct, and if that does follow that timeline, 75 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: what are the grammifications for emerging markets for asset prices 76 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: following a slowdown in these bond purchases UM. So as 77 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 1: we've seen a number of emerging markets have been already 78 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: starting to increase their own interest rates. We've seen that 79 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: happen over the la as few months, and we've seen 80 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: actually some more tightening in emerging markets again as the 81 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,679 Speaker 1: usual sort of course of things. UM. The emerging markets 82 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 1: that have a lot of US denominated. They that and 83 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: do not have a lot of exports that our U 84 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: S data base will be the ones to get get 85 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 1: into difficulty. I think, given the way tapering will happen, 86 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: which is probably incredibly gradually and not sudden, probably the 87 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: impact on emerging markets will be something that is slower. 88 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 1: The third job of the FED, which is stability of 89 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: the global economy. The U S economy of course, but 90 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: also the global economy, will not be something that j 91 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: POW will be forgetting to consider. We've been having a 92 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,119 Speaker 1: lot of conversations about moral hazard. What is the level 93 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: and the risk right now of moral hazard if we 94 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: don't do something, if we don't taper as quickly as 95 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: we should. I think the big problem if we don't 96 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,159 Speaker 1: start papering, whether it you know it is in October 97 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: or November or December, more likely November December time, is 98 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: the pressure of inflation again, UH are thinking that Rock Creek, 99 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 1: and my thinking is that the supply chain problems are 100 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: so huge, so overwhelming number one and all the other 101 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: things that are going on in UM in terms of 102 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: COVID related problems in various economies, that they are the one. 103 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,760 Speaker 1: They are the things that are governing price increases much 104 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: more than typical inflationary pressures. So the issue really at 105 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: hand is whether we get we are too late to move. 106 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 1: But in general inflation is a slow process. If we 107 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,279 Speaker 1: see take off, I think Jay Powell and its colleagues 108 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 1: at the Federal Reserves have lots of tools to catch 109 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,799 Speaker 1: up quickly if they need to. So not so worried 110 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: about moral hazard. Thank you so much, greatly appreciate it. 111 00:06:58,520 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: With the Rock Creek this morning, what we're supposed to 112 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: do is dutifully come out right now and talk about 113 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: price up, yield down or price down, yield up, talk 114 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: full faith and credit. I g HW yield bonds with 115 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: Bob Michael. He's been a JP Morgan for four hundred 116 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: years and joins us this morning, thrilled that he could 117 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: join us, Bob. But we're gonna spend some serious time 118 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: here on the great unspoken, and you nail it in 119 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: your research note. Stephanie Kelton at Stony Brook has changed 120 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: the world. She came out with modern monetary theory. We 121 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: are in an MMT experiment of some type as well, 122 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: and the financial media is not talking about this enough 123 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: because everybody sort of wishes the theory would go away, 124 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: which is unfair to something that's had such an impact. 125 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: Are you a believer in MMT more and Tom, It's 126 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: hard not to be a belief. It seems like the 127 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: go to policy response now in a crisis where the 128 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: role of governments is to borrow large amount of debts 129 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: and deploy it through fiscal stimulus and try to shortcut 130 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: two recovery, and the role of central banks is to 131 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 1: print lots of money and buy that debt and ensure 132 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,600 Speaker 1: that the cost of the recovery is affordable. I think 133 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 1: it's worked. It's hard to see where any pain has 134 00:08:26,360 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: been created or where there will be problems down the road. 135 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: I think we all sense that there's got to be something. 136 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:35,760 Speaker 1: What I'd like to see how the Jackson hold is 137 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 1: for the central bankers to say this is an emergency 138 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:43,199 Speaker 1: policy response. This isn't a normal part of our tool kit. 139 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: They need to draw the line somewhere here. And I'm 140 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: not surely said I think this is really important with 141 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: no criticism of people like Claudia sam and Stephanie Kilt 142 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: and I'm not even criticizing their cats and they have 143 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: cats at home. It's very evident on Twitter that they do. 144 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: So nobody has an exit strategy from our pandemic MMT well, 145 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,520 Speaker 1: and no one has a sense of exactly what the 146 00:09:07,559 --> 00:09:10,960 Speaker 1: consequences will be either, Bob, we talk about the potential 147 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: of some digital deal interious to use the same word 148 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:17,439 Speaker 1: from the day before at ramifications of from the MMT 149 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: types of policies that you talk about, Yet we're not 150 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: seeing them. Yields are not going up. Inflation to the 151 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 1: extent that it is going up is recognized as passing 152 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 1: and somewhat decelerating. So when are we going to see 153 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: the negative ramifications from MMT like policies. Well, we're at 154 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: an interesting point right now with Chair Pal and the 155 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 1: FED in the crosshairs of what's going on in Washington, 156 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:44,599 Speaker 1: and he's got Jackson Hole in the September f O 157 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: MC meeting to start backing out of this. But right 158 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 1: now we're well past the crisis, and the recovery is underway, 159 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: and we're recovering a lot of lost jobs, and we're 160 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 1: going to close the output gap by the end of 161 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 1: this year. And if m m T continues with half 162 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: a trillion in an infrastructure bill and three and a 163 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: half trillion in various forms of stimulus, and the FED 164 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: continues to print money and buy debt. I think there's 165 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:18,199 Speaker 1: a moral hazard there where you're looking at the FED 166 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 1: underwriting a lot of government policies. So I think it's 167 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,319 Speaker 1: a very good time for the FED to assert its independence, 168 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: draw line in the sand, and say that they're bringing 169 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: these things to an end. Now when, though, and what 170 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 1: commentary do you need to hear to get them to 171 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,920 Speaker 1: do that, is that inflation goes from transitory to worrying. 172 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: I think that's part of it. I think right now 173 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: they can point to substantial further progress hasn't been made 174 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: on a lot of the things that they look at. 175 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: When when they look at where policy rates are, um, 176 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: they don't need to be at zero for a lot longer, 177 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: they don't need the hundred and twenty billion in in 178 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: large scale asset purchases every month. They can move to 179 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: something that's more normal. I step back and I look 180 00:11:07,559 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: at where things are, and if this had been a 181 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: normal cycle, say going back I don't know, forty years ago, 182 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: maybe even fifteen or so years ago, at this point 183 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 1: in the cycle, I'd expect the FED funds rate to 184 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: be two around a zero real held, and I'd expect 185 00:11:24,520 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: the ten year treasury to be around three about a 186 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 1: one real heeld. So the fact that we're not there 187 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: tells you the amount of distortion that the central banks 188 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 1: are creating. Bob. But if the FED were to say 189 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 1: at the Jackson Hole meeting they're planning to start tapering 190 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: their bond purchases September, November, December at some point in 191 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: the near future, I'd indicated it would be faster than expected. 192 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: What would be the market response, Well, I think the 193 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:55,680 Speaker 1: market response would be a gradual rise in rates. And 194 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: I know there's some debate out there about whether FED 195 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: taper leads to a rise in rates or not. I 196 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: don't get that at all. Let me tell you if 197 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: if bond prices are the very definition of asset price inflation, 198 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 1: you've got a central bank printing unlimited amounts of its 199 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: own money and going in and buying a specific asset class. 200 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: If that's not how you inflate the price of an 201 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: asset class, how do you you look at the negative 202 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 1: one percent real yield on ten year treasuries. I think 203 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 1: the first stop is to get to something that looks 204 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:40,520 Speaker 1: around a zero percent and and we'll get there, we're 205 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 1: gonna run out of time. But how do you affect 206 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: a hundred basis point move in the real yield? Do 207 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: you do it off phenomenal or do you do it 208 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: with the help of inflation expectations. I think you do 209 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 1: it with the combination of both, but mostly with nominal yields, 210 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: mostly with the realization that you don't have the eight 211 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: hundred pound gorilla of the Fed sitting on the bond market. 212 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: And maybe other central banks will start to dial down, uh, 213 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 1: their large scale Pharaoh Pharaoll right now is writing on 214 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: manuscript brought on meditation. Bob, It's going to be a 215 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: really important book. Uh, you know, I think Barnes and 216 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: Noble is like waiting with boxes and boxes of it. 217 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: You gotta do a book, Bob michael on MMT. That 218 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: would be That would be just wonderful. It would really 219 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,720 Speaker 1: work with JP Morgan Asset Management, they've been on fire 220 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:41,479 Speaker 1: marksany sifting through all the cross winds. Here Moody's analytics 221 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: chief economist, a well renowned and well respected economists who 222 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: has been often cited for being accurate in a time 223 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: of such great uncertainty. Mark, thank you so much for 224 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,839 Speaker 1: being with us. We start to look out to September 225 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: to October to November. Regardless of what the Fed does, 226 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,319 Speaker 1: how can you characterize the men behind this labor market 227 00:14:01,400 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: right now? Good? Very good recording lots of jobs, created 228 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: almost a million jobs in July. That's on top of 229 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 1: a million jobs in June. I don't think we can 230 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: sustain that pace. But if you told me the economy 231 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: creates a half million jobs per month on average over 232 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: the next twelve eighteen months, that'll bring unemployment back in 233 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: close to full employment, something kind of in the mid 234 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: three percent range by likely twenty three. That sounds about 235 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: right to me. So it's good, all right, So everyone 236 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,200 Speaker 1: agrees that it's good, and the degree which it is great, 237 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: or the degree to which we've got a tightness in 238 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: a late labor market that perhaps isn't recognize, is up 239 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: for debate. However, there is also a question of the 240 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: enhanced unemployment benefits what the role off will do. Will 241 00:14:41,040 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 1: it allow more people are sort of push them back 242 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: into the labor market, or will it simply reduce the 243 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: buying power of consumers that see uh, some of their 244 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: income depleted. This is a great uncertainty. Where do you 245 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: weigh in on that. Well, I around the debate over 246 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: whether the supplemental unemployment insurance that's the three dollar extra 247 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: per week that folks are getting in about half the 248 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: states UH, that was part of the American Rescue Plan. UH. 249 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: I don't think that that had a major impact on 250 00:15:10,200 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: the willingness of people to go to work. I think 251 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: that's probably on the list of reasons. But it's towards 252 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: the bottom of the list of reasons. And we got 253 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 1: some data points regarding that late last week we got 254 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: state employment data for July and you could see in July, 255 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: and you know, you had half the states UH eliminate 256 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:31,000 Speaker 1: that the supplemental insurance benefit. In July, there was no 257 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: effect an employment in those states compared to states that 258 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,560 Speaker 1: kept the unemployment insurance. So so, you know, a lot 259 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 1: of data points to calm the script still being written. 260 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: We'll see and I expect we'll see some impact, but 261 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: it's really on the margin. And Mark, in the depths 262 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 1: of oh eight oh nine, you were the reigning optimist. 263 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: You were the one everybody tried it out to say, 264 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: you know what, folks, we're going to recover from this. 265 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: It took some time, but folks, Mark Zandi absolutely nailed 266 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: the economic recovery of twelve and on. You have a 267 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: heated note mark Sandy saying, would everybody calm down by 268 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:12,200 Speaker 1: the overheating effects of this trillions of dollars of stimulus? 269 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: Why should I be calm about overheating? Well, the first 270 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: thing I'd say is there's a lot still a lot 271 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:21,480 Speaker 1: of slack in the economy, Tom, I mean, the unemployment 272 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,760 Speaker 1: rate is still five point four percent full employments, something 273 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: in the mid threes, maybe even the low threes. We 274 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: still have millions of people who stepped out of the 275 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 1: workforce during the pandemic, who aren't even counted as unemployed. 276 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,120 Speaker 1: So you know, we got a long way to go. 277 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: I you know, we're head in the right direction. We're 278 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: creating lots of jobs, and we got pretty deep holed 279 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 1: dig out of and this support we're talking about now 280 00:16:42,840 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 1: that you know something, some flavor of the build Back 281 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: Better agenda the present by uh you know, unveiled earlier 282 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: this year, that doesn't really kick in until four and 283 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: and to do a degree that you know, I don't 284 00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: really think that is an inflationary issue nothing. I quickly 285 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: point it out. There's a lot of aspects of the 286 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,000 Speaker 1: plan that address inflation. So, for example, a big part 287 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: of the plan is to increase housing supply, and we 288 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: all know there's a very severe shortage of affordable housing 289 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: and that's driving up rents and rank growth is the 290 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:18,160 Speaker 1: single most important aspect of in so you know that 291 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 1: will go a long way to addressing that particular aspect. 292 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,640 Speaker 1: Mark there was a folk crew of years ago called Stubbs, 293 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 1: Blinder and Zandy. They were outstanding. I loved what they 294 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: did that by coffee houses all through eastern Pennsylvania. David 295 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,639 Speaker 1: Stubbs over in London with JP Morgan is just brilliant 296 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: on the technological overlay in our underestimation of productivity. You've 297 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 1: studied this with the former vice chairman of the FED. 298 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: How do you take in the technology overlay right now 299 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: and what it will do to wage growth? Do we 300 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: grossly worry about wage growth where we should not? Yeah, 301 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: I'm not. That's a great point. You know, wage growth 302 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: has held up admirable well during the pandemic, and I 303 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: do expect it to continue to accelerate as the labor 304 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 1: market continues to improve unemployee comes in. But I'm not 305 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: I'm not concerned that this is inflationary because productivity growth 306 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: is also accelerated. Now, part of that is you know, 307 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:18,320 Speaker 1: cyclical related to the pandemic measurement issues, all that kind 308 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:21,199 Speaker 1: of stuff. But abstracting from all that, looking through the noise, 309 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: it feels like productivity growth underlying productivity growth that's accelerating. 310 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: And there's many reasons for that. One is, I think technology. 311 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: You know, there's a lot of technologies out there that's 312 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 1: just taking time for businesses to incorporate, incorporate into their 313 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: business practices. But I think they are and I think 314 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 1: we are seeing productivity improvement. That if that is the case, 315 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: then that you know, that's a win win, right. That's 316 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 1: a win for businesses because they can you know, pay 317 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,159 Speaker 1: higher wages and still maintain their earnings. Is obviously a 318 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: win for workers as you know, it's a reason to 319 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,639 Speaker 1: be more feel more confident about our long term fiscal 320 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: situation because it means more tax revenue. You know, there's 321 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,160 Speaker 1: an endless reasons for optimis and if in fact, protectival 322 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: growth is accelerated, I you know, you know, hard to know, 323 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:09,480 Speaker 1: but it feels like Tom that product productivity growth is improving. 324 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 1: Mark though, on that note, you mentioned that We may 325 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: not get some of this fiscal stimulus until twenty three, 326 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,960 Speaker 1: but by then, what is the argument that it's too late, 327 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: Maybe the economy won't need it. Well, the UH support 328 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 1: we're talking about now, the fiscal package, the build back 329 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,160 Speaker 1: better gender, is not about short term growth. It's about 330 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: long term growth. It's about lifting long term growth, lifting 331 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:36,399 Speaker 1: productivity growth because of better public infrastructure. Everything from roads 332 00:19:36,440 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: to broadband is about lifting labor force participation in labor 333 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:43,760 Speaker 1: force growth. That's you know, if I give lower income, 334 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: lower middle income households support for childcare and elder care 335 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,239 Speaker 1: and paid family leave, that's going to make it more 336 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:51,879 Speaker 1: likely that they can go to work. Right now, they 337 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: can't get a lot of low income households, particularly women 338 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: in low income households, can't go to work because they 339 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: can't pay for childcare. And this is helping free them 340 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 1: up so they and go to work. So this is 341 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: about long term economic growth, and it's also about making 342 00:20:03,880 --> 00:20:07,640 Speaker 1: sure that the benefits of the increasing long term economic 343 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: growth a crew to lower and middle income households EF 344 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: folks have been left behind in our economy over the 345 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: past three four decades, UH Mark, this has been wonderful. 346 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: Marks Andy, thank you so much, greatly appreciated. With Moody's 347 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 1: analytics there with a decidedly optimistic cast. When you are 348 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: on the train between Boston and New York, you look 349 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 1: across the water at the secrets of the General Dynamics Company. 350 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: Arguably Phee Novakovic has resurrected General Dynamics into what it 351 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: used to be and what it is moving forward. This 352 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: is a really important interview with David Rubinstein, of course, 353 00:20:51,359 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: peer to peer conversations, David, she just basically rescued General Dynamics. 354 00:20:56,600 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: There's no no beating around the bush. What is the 355 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: Novakovic method. Well, she's very tough, she's very smart. Um, 356 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: she knows the defense industry quite well. She had worked 357 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: with the Pentagon for quite some time and she write 358 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: omb was overseeing the defense BUDG difference sometime when she 359 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:16,480 Speaker 1: took over in two thousand thirteen. The previous year General 360 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: Dynamics had lost about six or seven hundred million dollars 361 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: and so she turned it around and now the stock 362 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 1: is up about a d since she's been the CEO. 363 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: So a very good turnaround story. It's a good turnaround story. 364 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: But as you well know, it Carlile. This is so 365 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 1: much a contract by contract boomer bus business as well. 366 00:21:36,119 --> 00:21:40,880 Speaker 1: Is she mackenzie did into a different kind of company 367 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:43,439 Speaker 1: or is it the same defense contract or that you 368 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: and I used to stare at across the bay in Grutten. Well, 369 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: it's a little different. And that many defense companies today 370 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,920 Speaker 1: are making a lot of money on I T or 371 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:56,240 Speaker 1: electronic related things or things relating to cyber and that's 372 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,040 Speaker 1: an important part of what General Dynamics is doing as well. 373 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:01,960 Speaker 1: But the bread and butter of General Dynamics has long 374 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: been tanks and submarines, and they are very very good 375 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:08,640 Speaker 1: at that. They also owned golf Stream, and golf Stream 376 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 1: has been extremely profitable in recent years. Well it is. 377 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:13,440 Speaker 1: You know, I decided not to go for the gulf 378 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: Stream seven hundred, David. I just thought it was too 379 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: extravagant for what we're doing at surveillance. Francine wanted to 380 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: go there. Tell us about golf Stream. Is it a 381 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: bolt on business or is it early part of her vision? Well, 382 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 1: when they bought it from uh TED Enforcement many years ago, 383 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:33,679 Speaker 1: it was seen as uh unclear what this mission was 384 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: because it really wasn't a defense part of of General Dynamics. 385 00:22:37,760 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: It's not a defense uh industry uh kind of company. 386 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,520 Speaker 1: Kind of company, but in recent years General Dynamics has 387 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 1: really turned around golf stream to the point where it's 388 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,600 Speaker 1: clearly the in my view of the elite of of 389 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: the business jet business in the United States. And they 390 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:55,760 Speaker 1: have done quite well in their G six fifties, there 391 00:22:55,840 --> 00:22:58,320 Speaker 1: G seven hundreds and so forth, so it's a very 392 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 1: very profitable business for them now. Mr Rubinstein. It's incredible 393 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 1: the timing of this interview as well, just given the 394 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:09,720 Speaker 1: events in Afghanistan. Any insight that you can glean from 395 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,000 Speaker 1: that interview just after the Taliban took over cobble and well, 396 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: where we think about the future of defense spending, Well, 397 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,439 Speaker 1: there's always a thought in Washington and when presidents of 398 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: the United States are Democrats and the Congress is Democratic, 399 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: probably defense spending will go down. But I think the 400 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 1: events in Afghanistan will probably make it more likely defense 401 00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 1: spending will go up more than even President Biden are proposed, 402 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: because it's clear there's still a lot of uncertainty out 403 00:23:37,600 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: there in the world, and I think that what happened 404 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: in Afghanistan, without assessing whether there was fault on somebody's 405 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:45,399 Speaker 1: part or not is clearly going to embolden people to 406 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 1: think we need to have a much bigger defense budget 407 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: in my view, David, one final question, if we could, 408 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:55,360 Speaker 1: and it folds in from Taylor's good question. In our 409 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:59,679 Speaker 1: business and in our government relationship with China, do you 410 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 1: look in Afghanistan is being a change agent for how 411 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:08,080 Speaker 1: we speak to China. I think Afghanistan is going to 412 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,720 Speaker 1: make it more difficult for the United States to persuade 413 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 1: some of our allies to follow our lead. And so 414 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 1: with resuspect of China, China is probably going to have 415 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: a closer relationship with Afghanistan in the future than then 416 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 1: we are going to have, clearly, and I think as 417 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: a result, it will change the dynamics somewhat. But our 418 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: own relationship with China really is not dependent on Afghanistan, 419 00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: and that's a complicated relationship. And I don't think President Bush, 420 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, President Biden and President she are likely to 421 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: meet anytime soon. The sooner they meet, I think it 422 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 1: would be good, But I just don't think it's gonna 423 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: happen anytime soon, right, David Rubinstein, thank you so much 424 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: in congratulations, are really inspired peer to peer conversation. Look 425 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 1: for that. This is the Bloomberg Surveillance Podcast. Thanks for listening. 426 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:54,960 Speaker 1: Join us live weekdays from seven to ten a m. 427 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: Eastern on Bloomberg Radio and on Bloomberg Television each day 428 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:03,280 Speaker 1: from six to nine am for insight from the best 429 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:08,399 Speaker 1: in economics, finance, investment, and international relations. And subscribe to 430 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:13,200 Speaker 1: the Surveillance podcast on Apple podcast, SoundCloud, Bloomberg dot com, 431 00:25:13,280 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 1: and of course, on the terminal. I'm Tom keane In. 432 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 1: This is Bloomberg