Neglect Private Debt at the Economy's Peril

World Economics Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2017

16 Pages Posted: 16 Dec 2016 Last revised: 5 Jan 2023

See all articles by Leslie Manison

Leslie Manison

Independent

Savvakis C. Savvides

Queen's University - John Deutsch Institute for the Study of Economic Policy

Date Written: December 1, 2016

Abstract

The authors discuss the role of private debt in financial crises and attempt to apply the debt deflation logic to the data and facts surrounding the post bail-in years in Cyprus. It is found that the financial crisis in Cyprus was indeed predictable and that a key problem facing the country remains that of avoiding a balance sheet recession which threatens to impede sustainable economic growth. Another interesting finding is that for the three years after the bail-in Cyprus households have been living off their savings rather than making the required additional savings to reduce their debt and restore balance sheet positions. With greater forced or needed savings and the resultant contraction of aggregate demand a downward spiral of debt/deflation can inevitably be expected to set in along lines expounded most notably by Richard Koo. In addition policy recommendations aimed at countering the onset of a balance sheet recession are advanced.

Keywords: balance sheet recession, debt deflation spiral, sustainable growth, debt minimization, dissaving, aggregate demand, credit risk

JEL Classification: D61, G17, G21, G32, G33, H43

Suggested Citation

Manison, Leslie and Savvides, Savvakis C., Neglect Private Debt at the Economy's Peril (December 1, 2016). World Economics Journal, Vol. 18, No. 1, March 2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2886345 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2886345

Leslie Manison

Independent ( email )

Savvakis C. Savvides (Contact Author)

Queen's University - John Deutsch Institute for the Study of Economic Policy ( email )

Canada

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
104
Abstract Views
1,089
Rank
437,815
PlumX Metrics