November 02, 2011
The Washington Post reported on the bizarre situation in which the relatively rich European Union is asking China, a relatively poor country, with assistance in its bailout package. It would have been appropriate to remind readers that the only reason that Europe needs help from anyone is that the people running the European Central Bank (ECB) are part of a bizarre cult that worships a 2.0 percent inflation target.
If the ECB was managed in the same way as central banks have been managed through time, it would simply step in as the lender of last resort and guarantee the sovereign debt of the euro zone countries and immediately put an end to the crisis. However, adherence to the 2.0 percent inflation cult prevents the ECB from functioning as a modern central banks.
The 2.0 percent inflation cult is proving to be one of the most destructive faiths in human history. The adherence to this cult prevented the ECB from taking an steps to stem the growth of housing bubbles across the continent. (This was also the case in the United States where the cult is not as widely practiced at the Fed.) Now that these bubbles have collapsed and left the economy in ruins, adherence to the cult is preventing the ECB from responding adequately.
[Addendum: Those interested in hearing more about the situation in Greece may want to tune into a conference on Thursday and Friday at the University of Texas organized by my friend Jamie Galbraith.]
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