China, The U.S. and the End User Dilemma

Back on August 3rd subscribers to my weekly newsletter - Sectors and Styles Strategy Report - read the following:

China may become the bigger fly in the bullish ointment. Unlike the US, China has spent all of its stimulus package money not on consumer demand related areas (where it is most needed) but on more infrastructure projects. Since the U.S. consumer is and will remain in balance sheet repair mode for a while, and developed economy consumers (Europe and Japan) reluctant and/or unable to pick up the slack, end user (consumer) demand must materialize from emerging economies. With savings rates very high in China and other developing economies, expectations of V-shaped global economy recovery of a sustainable nature (meaning balanced and asset bubble free) seem fairly unlikely.

Therefore, a close eye should be kept on China and the very real prospect that a bubble burst may occur in that country. Should such an event occur, the global growth story becomes highly suspect, and equity values based on a global V-shaped recovery and expansion very problematic."

At the end of the day, somebody has got to buy something from someone else. The government may be the lender of last resort, but it is not the buyer of last resort. That title belongs you and me - the consumer. And, despite its best Keynesian wishes, the prospect of demand being a guaranteed result of fiscal stimuli remains an unresolved mystery. Therefore, as helpful as next year's conveniently politically-timed U.S. stimulus package will be, it cannot be, nor should be, counted on as lifting the world economy out of its end user dilemma. Moreover, government schemes like "cash for clunkers" get you only so far. They're like a life preserver keeping one's economic head just above the water, and nothing more.

Investment Strategy Implications

When stocks moved away from the abyss, a certain sense of relief was taken to a modestly enthusiastic extreme. The more optimistic drank the valuation kool-aid of born-again bullish investment strategists. "The more things change, the more they remain the same" became the mantra as business as usual replaced the panic-driven mindset - business most unusual.

With the past few days of market decline, perhaps reality will begin to sink into the valuation equation. Hopefully (but not likely), the vital focus on what is necessary for a sustainable global economic recovery will take center stage. And with it a concentrated effort to appreciate the end user dilemma.

Comments

[whidbey:]

Or, already has occurred and may unleash a tidal wave of social-political discontent.

Be ware the sleeping giant!

Aug 18 06:14 PM

[Jiang Nan:]

Is consumption really the only means of GDP growth?

Just assuming, everything else being equal,

year 1, the world produces its first intergalactic spaceship, bravo, GDP grow.
year 2, 2 spaceships produced and sold, hmm... GDP grow
year 3, 3 produced
year 4, 4
.
.
.
.
year N, everyone who needs a spaceship has one, now what?

Aug 18 07:14 PM

[ed233:]

You are assuming that the world stops when the US consumer becomes tapped out. Sorry that's not going to happen. There's no question we're experiencing a dip in the global economy but only that. History will reveal who caused it too. What the world needs, the US has little to contribute, except perhaps it's intelectual property rights. The US was the center or hub of financial affairs up until recently but they have extinguished that in short order. That's why you're seeing many countries exchanging trade without using the US, I OWE YOU as a medium of exchange. If China says they support the US dollar don't believe them. They have already started on a course of reducing their US exposure. The US is bankrupt if you take away their right to print money. We are now entering into a long term bull market for commodies that the emerging markets need for building their infrastructure in the same way as the developed countries experienced after World War II. The USA will be mired in flawed policies they cannot afford instead of developing vast resources available to get themselves out of debt. History has shown many times that socialist expensive programs in a capitalistic economic structure don't work very well. LOL Looking after your money.

Aug 22 01:06 PM