This is not what inflation is. Inflation is bad for rich people because the value of their wealth hoards decreases, but what this actually is (wildly increasing rent and prices of groceries) is just (legal) profiteering if anything.
Edit: it appears I was mistaken. Please disregard this post.
Rich people aren’t just hoarding money in a bank like Scruge Mcduck, unless they’re not very smart. If most of their money was tied into bank bonds that didn’t out perform inflation, then it’s bad for them. But if it’s tied to business stock or ownership, then those stocks are now worth more money for one to be willing to give up that stock. Inflation benefits some types and hurts others.
You were not mistaken though. Read my comment about net debtors benefitting from inflation.
Your general idea of inflation being bad for those who hold money is correct. Stocks and real estate don’t counteract inflation, they are just less affected by it.
Wealthy people are net lenders because they usually hold more bonds than they borrow. That means they are negatively affected by inflation.
This isn’t true. Wealthy people do not hold more bonds than they issue. Berkshire Hathaway for example has less than 1% of their funds invested in bonds
The mantra is that bonds are part of diverse portfolio but this for people who are investing in retirement funds.
Bonds are often held for this purpose. They are a useful for an income steam but they are not where the majority of anyone’s investments are held because they are not fast growers. Furthermore, bonds are a hedge against inflation because they grow faster when inflation is high which obliterates your entire argument.
The actual thing that determines whether someone gains or loses from inflation is: are they a net debtor or lender?
Donald Trump has “money” but may actually benefit from from inflation if he’s so highly leveraged that his net worth is negative. A relatively poor retired couple with no debt may be worse off, because they borrow no money and pay for everything with cash.
This is not what inflation is. Inflation is bad for rich people because the value of their wealth hoards decreases, but what this actually is (wildly increasing rent and prices of groceries) is just (legal) profiteering if anything.
Edit: it appears I was mistaken. Please disregard this post.
Rich people aren’t just hoarding money in a bank like Scruge Mcduck, unless they’re not very smart. If most of their money was tied into bank bonds that didn’t out perform inflation, then it’s bad for them. But if it’s tied to business stock or ownership, then those stocks are now worth more money for one to be willing to give up that stock. Inflation benefits some types and hurts others.
Thanks! I’ll edit my post with this knowledge in mind.
Kudos to you for not doubling down!
You were not mistaken though. Read my comment about net debtors benefitting from inflation.
Your general idea of inflation being bad for those who hold money is correct. Stocks and real estate don’t counteract inflation, they are just less affected by it.
Wealthy people are net lenders because they usually hold more bonds than they borrow. That means they are negatively affected by inflation.
This isn’t true. Wealthy people do not hold more bonds than they issue. Berkshire Hathaway for example has less than 1% of their funds invested in bonds
The mantra is that bonds are part of diverse portfolio but this for people who are investing in retirement funds.
Bonds are often held for this purpose. They are a useful for an income steam but they are not where the majority of anyone’s investments are held because they are not fast growers. Furthermore, bonds are a hedge against inflation because they grow faster when inflation is high which obliterates your entire argument.
The actual thing that determines whether someone gains or loses from inflation is: are they a net debtor or lender?
Donald Trump has “money” but may actually benefit from from inflation if he’s so highly leveraged that his net worth is negative. A relatively poor retired couple with no debt may be worse off, because they borrow no money and pay for everything with cash.