Goldman's Jan Hatzius Believes the Hard Part Is Over

In this podcast episode, Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs, provides insights into the current economic cycle. The discussion covers a wide range of topics including disinflation, the influence of monetary policy, the state of the labor market, recession risks, and the Federal Reserve's ability to respond. The role of the Fed in preventing a recession and the understanding of inflation are also explored. Additionally, the episode touches on other relevant subjects such as convergence in economic policy, the federal deficit, bank capital rules, and the unique dynamics of the current economic cycle. The importance of hard data in economic analysis and the impact of artificial intelligence on various aspects of business and society are also addressed. This episode offers a comprehensive examination of the current economic landscape and the factors driving it. Takeaways • The decline in inflation across G10 and EM economies has not caused significant damage to the labor market. • The hard part of disinflation is over, and further declines are expected in areas like housing rent inflation. • The impact of monetary policy on inflation and GDP growth rate is important to consider. • The current economic cycle is unique due to the impact of COVID-19 and geopolitical shocks. • The relationship between the unemployment rate and recession requires consideration of additional labor market indicators. • The Fed's ability to respond with rate cuts reduces the risk of recession compared to the previous year. • The current 12-month recession probability is 15%, with a need for the Fed to respond to weaker numbers. • The importance of distinguishing between good and bad softening in the labor market. • COVID-19 has been the primary driver of disinflation and the labor market's performance. • Convergence in economic policy is crucial for controlling inflation. • The impact of the federal deficit on the economy, including the potential consequences for everyday Americans. • The potential negative impact of new bank capital rules on loans and small businesses. • The need for action to address the federal deficit and its impact on the economy. • The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing creativity at work and the importance of trust in technology. • The significance of open source contributions in driving advancements in AI. • The relationship between federal deficits and private sector investment (crowding out). • The resilience of the U.S. economy driven by consumer spending, despite concerns about inflation. • The potential boost to productivity from government incentivized domestic manufacturing and technology advancements. • The challenge of incorporating new economic factors into research and forecasting. • The importance of labor market indicators in predicting a recession and the policy response from the Federal Reserve. • The need for humility and flexibility in understanding and analyzing the current economic landscape. • The uniqueness of the current business cycle and its impact on economic analysis, with a decline in inflation without significant labor market weakness.