Financial repression isn't just about forcing institutions to buy government bonds. A key, subtle mechanism is making other asset classes less appealing. For example, implementing rent controls can remove the inflation-hedging quality of property, while high transaction taxes can deter equity investing, thus herding capital into government debt.

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Holding cash is a losing strategy because governments consistently respond to economic crises by printing money. This devalues savings, effectively forcing individuals to invest in assets like stocks simply to protect their purchasing power against inflation.

The primary driver of wealth inequality isn't income, but asset ownership. Government money printing to cover deficit spending inflates asset prices. This forces those who understand finance to buy assets, which then appreciate, widening the gap between them and those who don't own assets.

Deficit spending acts as a hidden tax via inflation. This tax disproportionately harms those without assets while benefiting the small percentage of the population owning assets like stocks and real estate. Therefore, supporting deficit spending is an active choice to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.

Governments with massive debt cannot afford to keep interest rates high, as refinancing becomes prohibitively expensive. This forces central banks to lower rates and print money, even when it fuels asset bubbles. The only exits are an unprecedented productivity boom (like from AI) or a devastating economic collapse.

While low rates and high nominal growth typically favor equities, financial repression introduces a counterintuitive risk. If institutions are forced to buy government bonds, they must sell liquid assets—primarily equities. This could lead to a slow, multi-year decline in the S&P 500, mirroring the 1966-1982 period, instead of a sudden crash.

Financial historian Russell Napier predicts governments will shift from fiscal/monetary tools to direct regulatory power to control capital. This involves compelling pension funds and insurers to invest in specific assets (like government bonds or domestic infrastructure) to achieve political goals, a tool he calls the "clunking fist."

Despite fears of fiscal dominance driving yields up, US bond yields have remained controlled. This suggests a "financial repression" scenario is winning, where the Treasury and Federal Reserve coordinate, perhaps through careful auction management, to keep borrowing costs contained and suppress long-term rates.

The massive increase in government debt held privately has broken the monetary policy transmission mechanism. When the Fed raises rates, the private sector's interest income from Treasury holdings now rises significantly, creating a stimulus that counteracts the tightening effect on borrowing costs.

When countries run large, structural government deficits, their policy options become limited. Historically, this state of 'fiscal dominance' leads to the implementation of capital controls and other financial frictions to prevent capital flight and manage the currency, increasing risks for investors.

In periods of 'fiscal dominance,' where government debt and deficits are high, a central bank's independence inevitably erodes. Its primary function shifts from controlling inflation to ensuring the government can finance its spending, often through financial repression like yield curve control.

Financial Repression Works Subtly by Making Alternative Investments Unattractive | RiffOn