The great market boom between 1982 and 2000 was basically characterized by low marginal tax rates and a strong King Dollar. Unfortunately, the 21st century has witnessed a weak dollar and, more recently, rising tax rates that are coming due in 2011 (if not sooner). In other words, the prosperity-inducing Mundell-Laffer supply-side model is being reversed.
As economist Art Laffer put it to me, we are stealing demand and production from the future. So, even as we get a V-shaped recovery now and into next year, 2011 may finally pay the piper for both low growth and higher inflation.
What we need to be doing is exercising some monetary restraint to save the dollar. The Fed should start moving excess cash from the economy. They should follow Australia’s lead and begin raising their target rate. In addition, the Treasury ought to be buying all these unwanted dollars in the marketplace. And Washington needs to quit their explosive spending and borrowing. It is killing us. Some statutory — or even constitutional — limits should be set.
We also need economic-growth incentives like lower marginal tax rates which would benefit investors, entrepreneurs, and workers. We should be slashing tax rates on large and small businesses across-the-board.
Stocks could have another four to six months left to rally. That would be great news for increasing the wealth of the investor class, and maybe even enhancing the animal spirits a bit. But the policy mix is all wrong right now. Health-care entitlements and taxes punctuate the wrong-way policy mix.
What remains to be seen is whether the Republicans can successfully challenge the Democrats with a true supply-side economic-growth message and job-creating platform. If not, beware of the storm clouds.