Report
Patrick Artus

Who bears the economic risk?

Which economic agents bear economic risk (the risk of a fall in GDP)? It may be the government, companies, wage earners, banks or investors. In the United States, economic risk is borne in the medium term mainly by the government and wage earners; in the euro zone, by the government, wage earners and banks. Is this reasonable? An economic agent is able to bear economic risk if it can easily offset an income loss (by borrowing or using financial reserves). This is normally the case of the government, banks ( whose regulations point in this direction) and large companies; investors pass on fluctuations in the value of their assets to savers. It therefore makes little sense to have wage earners or small companies bear economic risk. While in the medium term it is not borne by companies (small or large), it is borne by wage earners, which is illogical; and in the United States not by banks, which is also illogical.
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

Other Reports from Natixis

ResearchPool Subscriptions

Get the most out of your insights

Get in touch