Economist and Economic Modeller Steve Keen showing instability inherent in high debt economies

Steve Keen talks about instability inherent in high debt economies.  He does this while modeling economies on a computer and demonstrating the oscillations.

Video Notes

• I have seen this kind of stability analysis applied before.  It is valid for circuits and system functions – I would posit it is valid for economic systems
• When economies start using debt to drive employment things are ok for a few economic cycles – then you hit a last cycle when debt taken on is huge – the economic levitation ends – the economy shuts down.
• The blue trace with loops is a tracing of oscillator "squegging" as we call it in electrical engineering – parametric modulation
• because private debt levels are so high private deleveraging can overwhelm government deficit spending
• writing off the bad debt – a.k.a. recognizing the bad debt is the only solution
• to stabilize the system the system should be tweaked to limit the amount of personal debt individuals are willing to take on – base housing loan prices on rents you can get for said house instead of what appraisers conjure up
• Full talk at the Whitlam Institute is here
• The associated PowerPoint presentation is here