Eurodollar University’s Making Sense; Episode 17: From Bond Yields to Communism, Don’t Call It A Comeback

Jeff Snider, Head of Global Investment Research for Alhambra Investments with Emilulous. Artwork by David ‘Straight Outta London’ Parkins. Podcast intro and outro is “Callin Shots” by Damma Beatz at Epidemic Sound.

[Emil’s Summary] Is the post-2008 economic ‘boom’ proving Marxism? Would communism’s big three look at 2020 approvingly? Is communist utopia counter to human nature? Also, yield curve control and more.

Plato, Kant, Nietzsche, Buddha, Confucius, Rousseau, Aristotle, Bastiat, Molinari, Cicero, Hegel, Hobbes, Kant… LL Cool J. The contemporary philosopher sits on the social and political branch of the Western tradition. He began releasing treatises in 1985 after collaborating with Def Jam. Radio was his first. Two years later, Bigger and Deffer. But 1989’s Walking with a Panther was ‘too pop-y’, said the Philosophical Review. ‘So much empty fluff,’ pondered the British Society for Phenomenology. Dialectica wouldn’t even look at it. His fourth commentary however, returned him to the top. Both the album and its most famous song were titled “Mama Said Knock You Out”. The single famously begins with, “Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years”.

Singing that tune these days are Communism, Marxism and Socialism. In this, the 17th episode of Making Sense, Jeff Snider explains how to understand their philosophy and why their recent popularity is not a comeback despite the doctrine’s body of work. Marxism was never gone, it was waiting for the club of mostly wealthy nations to reach the end of their capitalist potential. Well, a thirteen year depression on par with the 19th century’s Long and the 20th century’s Great depressions is making a good case. So then, how to counter the argument?

But that’s for the back-half of the show. First, a Catch-22 like paradox in bond markets. Safe sovereign and risky corporate bonds both display falling yields. Why? We look back to the last worldwide depression for answers. Then, yield curve control. This podcaster has a feeling it’ll be the must-have toy for central bankers by Christmas. We look back at the US experience with the policy during the 1940s. Then Marx, Lenin and Mao take the stage, grab the mic and start spitt’n.

00:05 Bond Markets | Paradox? Sovereigns Signal Illiquidity, Corporates Liquidity

02:46 Bond Markets | Interest Rate Fallacy – What and Who?

07:29 Bond Markets | 1930s Credit Bust Produced Falling (?!?!) Corporate Yields

10:45 Bond Markets | Liquidity preferences CLOs, leveraged loans, bank loans vs corporate bonds

12:59 Bond Markets | How would yields behave during a sustainable economic boom?

14:47 Yield Limits | Yield curve caps. Are rapidly rising yields our biggest fear now?

19:10 Yield Limits | Dallas Fed President Fischer noted Fed’s buying what the market already is

21:00 Yield Limits | What was the experience of the 1942-52 US yield curve control?

24:50 Yield Limits | 1947 as example of transitory inflation that’s not monetary or persistent

29:36 Communists | The lack of economic growth since 2007 (seemingly) confirms Marxist theory

32:58 Communists | Utopia is it achievable? The Soviets put the cart before the horse

36:47 Communists | Human nature, the advancement of civilization runs counter to Marxism

40:37 Communists | Scandinavia – is it Marx-like socialism or safety-net capitalism?

43:25 Communists | If 2008-19 was ‘booming’ and unemployment ‘low’ then Marxism is plausible

Don’t Low Rates On Junk Bonds Mean Fed-fueled Credit Bubble? No. Precisely The Opposite: https://bit.ly/3fl5IYL
Yield Cap History Is Rock Solid, Just Not At All In The Way They Are Telling You: https://bit.ly/2CqYaoB
Yield Caps = Toddlers: https://bit.ly/3ejlIZQ
From QE to Eternity: The Backdoor Yield Caps: https://bit.ly/2OfJFaa
Socialism Would Have Been Easy to Discredit, Had There Been Growth: https://bit.ly/2DpeiYk
Brent Johnson & Jeff Snider “Breaking Down Eurodollars” Webinar by BlockWorks Group: https://bit.ly/2ZWnD1A
Reddit Late Stage Capitalism Thread 549,000 Strong: https://bit.ly/2ZgwU5c

Eurodollar University’s Making Sense; Episode 17: From Bond Yields to Communism, Don’t Call It A Comeback

About the Author: Jeffrey P. Snider

Stay In Touch

Contact