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Strange I see that the USA has a strong positive Capital Account surplus.

------------------------------ Rutherfordian RDRutherford
by Ronald Rutherford (rdrradio1@msn.com) on Mon May 21st, 2007 at 03:14:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Financial Capital.
by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Mon May 21st, 2007 at 06:40:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
What is that comment supposed to add to the discussion? Since (Current Account) + (Capital Account) = (Reserves), presumably a trade deficit (negative current account) correlates with a capital account surplus.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 06:25:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Thank you Migeru,
So you must realize in a freely floating exchange rate, Reserves are 0 and thus Current Account and Capital Account must balance out.

So instead of saying a deficit we could just as easily state it as a surplus.

As one of my economics teacher said, just put it into the other pocket and call it what it is.

------------------------------ Rutherfordian RDRutherford

by Ronald Rutherford (rdrradio1@msn.com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:20:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Let's see, if I run up a huge credit card debt to buy stuff I'll also have a current account (trade) deficit and a capital account surplus.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:26:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]
National and international "accounting" are totally and utterly surreal.

No relationship to reality whatever.

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:33:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It might be the same if you also issued currency and everyone wanted your pieces of paper rather than actual products and services.

------------------------------ Rutherfordian RDRutherford
by Ronald Rutherford (rdrradio1@msn.com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:42:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Those pieces of paper represent promises of future products and services.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:46:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Great, excellent.
We will no longer need the Federal Government to maintain what we call "Full Employment".


------------------------------ Rutherfordian RDRutherford
by Ronald Rutherford (rdrradio1@msn.com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:49:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
???

On another order of things...

IMF: How the IMF Can Help Promote a Collaborative Solution to Global Imbalances (Remarks by Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, April 4, 2006)

The problem is that good economic performance rests on a shaky foundation, because of large and continuing global imbalances. By definition, imbalances have two sides to them. The most visible aspect of the global imbalances problem is a large deficit in the current account of the balance of payments of the United States--almost 6½ percent of GDP in 2005, and expected to be as high again this year. The other side if the coin is large surpluses in the external accounts of other countries, including oil exporters such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, Japan and the emerging market countries of Asia, especially China. In some of these countries, current account surpluses have contributed to a very large build up of international reserves by central banks. And in the United States, repeated current account deficits have resulted in growing external indebtedness.


Bush is a symptom, not the disease.
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:52:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks again.
I am quite familiar with the IMF and have read about "Global Imbalances" mentioned quite a few times but this is a good summary of the views from the IMF.

Of course being a skeptic you must realize that any organization is always looking for relevance for itself.

Les non-concessional loans are being made and thus it needs to spend its resources in other fields that it does not know about fully yet.

------------------------------ Rutherfordian RDRutherford

by Ronald Rutherford (rdrradio1@msn.com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 03:06:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]
And Economics professors are masters of legerdemain.

Bush is a symptom, not the disease.
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue May 22nd, 2007 at 12:42:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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