Is the US economy overstretched?

The US economy is growing rapidly once again: 5 percent was recorded in recent months. But can it last?

America is at risk. At risk of the economic cycle, I hasten to add. However, it may appal the “trollosphere” to read the next sentence: Rumors of the death of the US economy are strictly exaggerated. Nevertheless, economic gravity may soon be upon it.

America has a wonderful appreciation that while capitalism delivers for its advocates (better living standards, higher wages and of course, economic growth) there are inevitable (cyclical) downswings. This attitude diverges from the prevailing European mentality where sad socialist recidivism has taken greater hold. European governments retain a misguided belief that they can defy economic gravity. Some even proffer delusions of breaking the economic cycle entirely (e.g. Britain’s fiscal failure Gordon Brown). Meanwhile egg runs down the faces of the EU when recalling their ridiculous protestations that Anglo-Saxon capitalism was broken just as Europe plunged headlong into their lost decade of growth.

Despite the leftward lunge of the largely unproductive President Obama (golf and basketball aside), at its core, the American economy remains propelled by entrepreneurial individuals realizing the dream of self-improvement through diligent risk-taking. That sunny Reaganite optimism serves the nation well. China may be coming up on the rails as the single largest economy but US income per capita remains unprecedented.

True, there has been some economic folly in the US, QE aforethought, alongside inadequate resolution of the banking mess: zero justice amid a bit of point-scoring against those with the temerity to criticize the basketballer-in-chief. Nevertheless, with a core robust free market system, America has blossomed once more. Meanwhile Europe wallows in a festering pit of despair, strangled by meddlesome red tape.

Thus Americans do what they have always done best – less impeded by government, they flourish when given space to grow. Sadly, that maxim is largely unknown in other, poorer continents. Separate to this economic dialogue, some correspondents may reflect that the US government has perhaps overcompensated for its laissez faire economics with a rather trenchant enthusiasm for intervention in other nations’ foreign affairs.

Nevertheless, calculating the “bread and circuses” indicator of human life, the American economy remains in the long-term a wondrous economic marvel to behold – presuming that is, the ongoing craziness of Obama economics are not reflected in a president to the left of logical reason, like Hillary Clinton, for instance. Those preaching a mantra that America risks splitting at the seams ignore the core economic cohesion – yes there are social issues, but compared to the mass beggaring of Euro-youth? I think not.

Unfortunately at the same time, economic gravity will out and that leads to some concern for 2015. The US economy has averaged 57 months of expansion before matters get a tad overheated and a recession ensues. Equally, we have many indicators of somewhat frothy stock multiples. Are they expensive? Well they certainly aren’t cheap, with large US corporations making half their profits overseas. Even presuming growth elsewhere, a resurgent US dollar suggests lower profits for American corporations. Moreover, the bond bubble is on borrowed time with the shale economy likely subject to a “wildcat” cyclical downturn, given collapsing oil prices.

Admittedly, the US economy suffered a large downswing in the last recession but thanks to the flexibility of its employment and a relatively forgiving approach to redemption of entrepreneurial spirit after failure, the US has had a huge upswing which may continue awhile yet. However, January 2015 marks the 67th consecutive month of expansion (read that and weep, Europe!), already 10 more than the average upswing. Yes, the cycle may carry on for a while (we all hope so) but ultimately cyclical gravity will impact the US economy once more and it begins 2015 leveraging itself against the mean. A US recession is likely close at hand.

Ironically, while a US recession will adversely impact its citizens, the biggest losers in the process will likely be overseas markets. Even a short, relatively muted recession will likely cause a wave of dislocation, e.g. amidst the enormously over-leveraged government spendthrift continent of Europe where government continues to ignore the lessons of their own hubristic impotence to create growth.

An overstretched US cycle will likely cause America more economic pain before the lame duck Obama presidency ends. However, it will make the greatest impact on weakened states across the Atlantic.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.