Flight to Safety

The unwinding of the carry trade and the flight to safety is causing the yen and dollar to appreciate. This is what is spreading the crisis to many emerging markets.

I gave a talk on the financial crisis this week and I noted that this crisis was unlike typical ones in one big way. When most countries experience a financial crisis currency flows out and the biggest problem is to defend the currency. The IMF then comes in and pushes lower government spending to create confidence in the future of the economy. But our crisis has caused the dollar to appreciate as the whole world demands the safety of the dollar. Hence, our government is increasing spending. We have created a new type of financial crisis. That is the risk when it comes from the financial center.