Tag Archives: sovereign debt

Japan’s post-1989 experience provides a long-running case study on the limits of monetary and fiscal stimulus. After the collapse of a combined equity and property bubble, Japan relied on sustained deficits, near-zero interest rates, and repeated stimulus to stabilize growth. While markets eventually recovered in nominal terms, the process took decades and coincided with a sharp rise in government debt. In 2026, rising bond yields and higher debt servicing costs are testing the durability of this approach. The Japanese experience offers a relevant framework for assessing similar policy paths now being followed globally.

Gold recently surpassed $3,500/oz, attracting investors looking for protection from economic uncertainty and global instability. With rising sovereign debt and reduced confidence in fiat currencies, analysts see potential for gold to reach $10,000 to $25,000 per ounce. Central bank accumulation, underinvestment in mining, and geopolitical risks add to the bullish case. Investment strategies include physical gold, mining stocks, and ETFs such as GDX and GDXJ. Companies like Barrick Gold, New Gold, and Lake Victoria Gold are noted for their positioning. The article outlines why gold may become a key investment theme heading into 2025.

Even if all federal tax revenue was applied to pay down U.S. sovereign debt, it would take 10 years (not including any interest) to do so! This infographic shows how other countries like Canada, UK, Australia and Germany, among others, rank in comparison.es like Canada, UK, Australia and Germany, among others, rank in comparison.

Sadly, the fiscal and monetary conditions for global economic chaos have now been set in stone. It’s only a matter of time and, unfortunately, that time is short.

What the Land of the Free needs right now is someone who can stop beating around the bush and just get on with it already and that someone is Donald Trump because he is an expert at declaring bankruptcy. When the going gets tough, Trump stiffs his creditors - he’s done it four times - and such experience would come in handy during the next presidential term. The U.S. government is bankrupt and default is inevitable. Who better to oversee such an event than Donald Trump!

Is gold undervalued or overvalued?...[Unfortunately,] there's no good way - and definitely no universally accepted way - to determine a "fair value" for gold. Unlike a stock, gold doesn't have a price-to-earnings ratio that we can easily compare to the market. [That being said, I offer in this article] a logical, real-world price target. Words: 700

It seems that the past few years of falling interest rates have lulled a big part of the global economy into financing with variable-rate debt...[As such,] when interest rates go up (as they did last week), there’s a world-wide reset in interest costs that, best case, amounts to a tax increase on individuals and businesses and, worst-case, threatens to blow up the whole system.

At the risk of looking/sounding like some crazed religious fanatic usually seen carrying a sign or proclaiming: “Repent, the end is near,” I shall avoid the word “repent". To me, the rest of that proclamation appears accurate and reasonable, at least with regard to our economic condition. [Let me explain:] Words: 1896

Is it a coincidence that Greece, a country with a 40% smoking rate, has dug itself into such a financial mess? What is fiscal irresponsibility, if not an unwillingness to deal with discomfort today in exchange for future financial health? [Let me explain why an analogy to a country's addiction to smoking is so appropriate when considering the Greeks' attitude to their country's sovereign debt woes.] Words: 650

I respect many of the writers who believe that we will experience hyperinflation... but I think they are jumping the gun. Hyperinflation is something that is easy to say - and it certainly achieves the sensational headlines that so many financial writers seek - but it is much more difficult to achieve. At this point none of the economic or political factors required to set off hyperinflation are present. The question should not be whether or not it is possible, but whether or not it is probable in America today and in my opinion the probability of such happening is very low. [Let me explain why that is the case.] Words: 2695