Friday, September 28, 2012

There Is An Alternative!!

I know there isn't a realistically likely to happen alternative, but we should be careful not to mix the "won't happen" with the "can't happen."

In other words, the straight economics of the situation suggests that Spain doesn’t need more austerity. It shouldn’t throw a party, and, in fact, it probably has no alternative (short of euro exit) to a protracted period of hard times. But savage cuts to essential public services, to aid to the needy, and so on actually hurt the country’s prospects for successful adjustment.

The ECB should give lots of free money to the government, and then give lots of free money to the citizens. And they should throw a fabulous party! That would improve things.