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CBO - Everything Is Going To Be Really-Really Great!
A few snippets of data from the Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook 2003.
Estimated 10-year budge surplus = $5.6T.
Reality = $6.6T deficit. A 200+% miss.
Estimate for 2012 Debt Held by Public = $1.2T (5% of GDP).
Reality = Debt Held by Public = $11.6T. A 1000% miss.
Estimated fiscal 2012 GDP = $17.4T.
Reality = $15.8T. A $1.6T (10%) miss.
Okay, it was not an easy period to forecast. But the fact is, no period is easy to model and forecast. The CBO assumed that there would be no recessions in the 2004-2012 period. The CBO got hit on the head with that assumption.
I think the CBO is making the same mistakes again in 2013. It has a crystal ball of what the future will look like. The CBO assessment is that there is nothing but blue skies ahead. Some more snippets; this time from the just released 2013 CBO report on our future:
- GDP is about to soar! It going to more than double the current rate! Happy days are right around the corner. The economy is going to enter a sustained period of economic growth – and it’s going to star in just ten-months! Wow!
- Debt is not a problem any longer. Don’t worry about a thing. After ramping up the past five years, the Debt to GDP is going to flatten out, starting really soon.
- Unemployment will be no problem at all. The rate is going back to 5.5% in a couple of years, and it is going to stay low for the remaining 7-years. There is Zero, repeat Zero (as in nada, no-way-no how) chance for a recession over the next decade. I find this very comforting.
- Inflation is not going to be a problem. either. Not too cold, not too hot – the CPI will average less than 2% for well into the 2020’s. No chance of inflation picking up at all.
- There is even good news for savers. Interest rates will be going up very sharply. By 2015 the 10-year T-bond will be back to 4.5%, more than double where it is today. This backup interest rates will have no consequence to the economy at all. Not to worry one bit.
- There reason that the future is so bright is that the economy will prosper. GDP will grow to $25.9T in 2023. This comes to a 67% (uncompounded) increase. Think of that! We haven’t seen that kind of performance since…well, actually, we’ve never seen it. But who knows? You have to believe in miracles if you work for the CBO.
You can argue with me all you want about those CBO estimates. The fact is, no one really knows what will happen. But the CBO is using one assumption that is almost certain to be proven wrong. It is a very critical assumption: What will labor’s role be in the economy of the future?
- Labor income, as a percent of GDP, has been in a multi-decade decline (rise of the robots). The CBO is anticipating that the trend will not only stabilize, but will completely reverse.
I think the CBO is out on a limb with this critical assumption. I think they are all wet with the rosy outlook they believe is in our future. If you believe the CBO, the last thing you would do would be to address some of America’s daunting problems. After all, everything is going to be on easy street, so why sweat the small stuff?
I think the CBO has done our legislators, and the country a disservice with this report. I’ll be generous and give the CBO a D+for this effort.
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+11 for the use of "forsooth". Patrick O'Brian fan?
Clearly, the federal government needs to step in & fund yet another Blue Ribbon Panel to bring about some sort of meaningless bi-partisan compromise between the Fed & the CBO.
We need consultants here!
Consultants.
That's the racket in CA government.
Chap head of County Buttfuck Licensing and Drama Applications retires. Has no fully capable successor (by design) so a dimwit is place in as temporary honorable esteemed analog in virtual charge. But the place cannot run without said retiree chief buttfuck so he is hired on at full salary as a consultant.
Works 1 day a week coaching the now promoted to Full Head Buttfuck chappie and everybody is happier than pigs in mud.
Well, not exactly, but you get my drift.
And boards, too. Let's not forget boards. Remember the lesbian Bay Area legislator creep who plowed her state luxury car into someone on an off-ramp? Midge something? Midgkey? "Do you KNOW who I AM?" Yeah. That one. On drugs or something, iirc. Anyway, she got appointed to the Quilter's Licensing Board or some such at $100k per year when she lost her legislative gig. By that asshole Schwarzenegger. (And, yes, it's really true ... in California, you need a license from the state to make and sell a quilt.)
Wow, man. That just blows my mind. "(And, yes, it's really true ... in California, you need a license from the state to make and sell a quilt.)"
So its like a duo inverted drop program for the Norman Bates types?
so egan jones and s&p bad....cbo good
CBO fix-cacst...Confidence building, eh. Ponzi perpetuating.
they go after S&P today, JPM tomorrow...New players, hid/keep game.
Those are their game-reset levers.