The last time this happened, voters didn’t credit Bill Clinton. That may be a bad omen, or a good one.

If the stock market chose presidents, Joe Biden would be a shoo-in for reelection in 2024. The market rallied this month amid growing optimism about the economy, with the S&P 500 zooming 1.9 percent Tuesday on news that the consumer price index rose only 3.2 percent in October (compared to 3.7 percent in September). Stocks rallied again Wednesday on news that the producer price index fell 0.5 percent. Commentators are no longer debating whether the economy will experience a “soft landing” (i.e., a reduction in inflation without recession). The only question now is when it will arrive. The S&P 500 seems to have decided it’s already here.

But the stock market doesn’t choose presidents. Voters do, and polls continue to show they think the economy is in terrible shape. A Financial Times–Michigan Ross Nationwide Survey conducted November 2–7 is absolutely brutal on this point.

  • @hark
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    01 year ago

    “Econ 101” is an oversimplification and doesn’t explain how the economy works practically. People don’t put off purchases because their money is supposedly worth 2% more after a year. Similarly, people don’t spend just because their money is supposedly worth 2% less after a year. According to you, people would only buy when there is a sale, unless it’s an essential good, but it doesn’t work out that way. Tell me how well the car and housing markets are going under inflation.

    • @Aqarius
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      -21 year ago

      Yes, the “Econ 101” example is an oversimplification, it’s why it’s the “Econ 101” example.

      • @hark
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        21 year ago

        Yes, which is why it doesn’t apply to real life. It’s an oversimplification.

        • @Aqarius
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          -21 year ago

          If you don’t understand the point of an oversimplified educational example, I’m afraid I cannot help you.

          • @hark
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            21 year ago

            If you don’t understand how an oversimplified example doesn’t apply in real life, I’m afraid I cannot help you.

          • @[email protected]
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            fedilink
            11 year ago

            If you went through economy classes and didn’t realize our fractional reserve system is built on a house of cards and misguided principles there is no point where you would actually understand the concepts we are talking about here. People still have wants and needs. People buy housing whether rates are good or bad, because they need a place to sleep. Yes investment property purchases will drop, but that’s not the average american, nor is the average american realistically investing in the stock market beyond regular 401ks because we deregulated bank investments and you can no longer get a savings account for retirement saving. Stop measuring economy health based on manufactured data points like the stock market and you might actually understand how people function in an economy.