OECD: What triggered the drastic change in economic policies?
Since the 2008-2009 crisis, there has been a real trend break in economic policies in OECD countries due to the surge in public debt ratios , the sharp increase in the size of central banks’ balance sheets and the very low interest rates. What are the causes of this drastic change in economic policies? Possible explanations are: Compensation for private sector deleveraging; this is not the case : total debt (public and private) has increased significantly; Compensation for a new imbalance between the private savings rate and the investment rate; this explanation seems relevant; A far stronger determination than before to prevent crises and recessions, leading to stimulation of demand and support of borrower solvency; The disappearance of inflation ; A vicious circle: if interest rates are low, the public debt increases, and this forces the central bank to keep interest rates low.