What Is Stagflation?
Stagflation is a period when the economy experiences high inflation, low growth and high unemployment at the same time. It is often seen as a sign of an economy going into a recession. However, the three indicators should not be looked at separately. Rather, they should be evaluated together to get a more accurate idea of the health of the economy. Stagflation is a very rare economic event, as it is difficult for two of the three indicators to occur simultaneously.
What Causes Stagflation?
The causes of stagflation are complex, but over-regulation of the economy, an increase in taxes, and a rise in interest rates can contribute to it. When demand is low, businesses lower production and decrease the number of employees. This can lead to high inflation and unemployment. When interest rates are high, it becomes more expensive for businesses and people to borrow money. It can prevent growth as well. During a period of stagflation, the government may intervene and increase taxes in order to increase revenue. This will reduce the amount of money businesses and people have to spend (purchasing power), leading to slower growth.
How to Know If an Economy is Facing Stagflation?
In order to determine if the economy is experiencing stagflation, one must look at three indicators: GDP, inflation and unemployment. GDP refers to the rate at which the economy is growing. If the GDP is stagnant or dropping, the economy is experiencing stagnation. Inflation is an increase in the price of goods and services. Unemployment refers to the number of people who are actively seeking work but cannot find employment. If the unemployment rate is rising, the economy is experiencing high unemployment. All these metrics collectively indicate stagflation.
Stagflation in History
When the US was hit by inflation during a recession in the 1970s, the word "stagflation" was coined. Some believe that this incident was caused by the Nixon administration's policies, which strongly urged the Federal Reserve to raise the money supply in tandem with the White House's policy of wage and price controls.
At first, the approach appeared to be a good idea, but an unexpected rise in oil prices severely damaged almost all supply chains. These elements came together to cause double-digit inflation in 1973 and 1974 as well as an almost twofold increase in the unemployment rate. Consequently, consumer spending decreased sharply.
Strategies to Survive During Times of Stagflation
Prepare for the worst! Since stagflation can happen at any time and for a variety of reasons, it is important to prepare for it even when the economy is doing well. During times of economic prosperity, it is common for people to spend more. However, during times of stagflation, people tend to cut back on spending. Therefore, it is wise to invest in savings plans during economic prosperity to fight such gray swan events.
