Report
Patrick Artus

OECD countries are exploiting savers' risk aversion

It is incomprehensible that holders of public (sovereign) bonds in OECD countries should passively accept to be taxed by abnormally low long-term interest rates (which corresponds to a slow restructuring of these countries’ public debt). They should normally get rid of risk-free bonds and invest in risky assets (shares, real estate), which they can hold without being subject to such taxation. The sale of risk-free bonds would drive up long-term interest rates and remove this taxation. The fact that savers/investors in OECD countries are keeping their government bond portfolios, and even increasing them, can only be explained by irrational risk aversion (related to holding shares or real estate), as well as financial repression (regulations that force investors to hold risk-free bonds). OECD countries are obviously exploiting this strong risk aversion among savers.
Provider
Natixis
Natixis

Based across the world’s leading financial centers, Natixis CIB Research offers an integrated view of the markets. The team provides support to inform Natixis clients’ investment and hedging decisions across all asset classes.

 

Analysts
Patrick Artus

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