Originally published at: https://peakprosperity.com/daily-digest/imf-boosts-egypt-us-transfer-payments-boost-inflation/
In a significant move to bolster Egypt’s economy amidst ongoing regional conflicts and internal challenges, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has augmented its loan program for the North African nation by $5 billion. This decision elevates the total Extended Fund Facility arrangement to $8 billion, up from the $3 billion approved in December 2022. The IMF’s executive board’s approval enables an immediate disbursement of $820 million to Egypt, aiming to address the country’s macroeconomic difficulties. These challenges have been intensified by the recent conflict in Gaza, affecting Egypt’s tourism and Suez Canal revenues, alongside the global repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine which escalated wheat and oil import costs. The IMF’s support follows Egypt’s implementation of significant economic reforms, including a currency flotation that saw the Egyptian pound depreciate by approximately 40% against the dollar. This move, coupled with a historic $35 billion investment deal with the United Arab Emirates, positions Egypt to attract more investors to its local bonds, despite being the IMF’s second-largest borrower after Argentina.
On another front, the discussion around government transfer payments highlights a shift in economic patterns following the Covid pandemic. The three rounds of fiscal stimulus, aimed at mitigating the pandemic’s impact, have inadvertently contributed to an inflationary wave, challenging the Federal Reserve’s models and expectations. Transfer payments, typically declining during recessions, have instead surged due to factors like illegal immigration, expanded social welfare programs, and an aging population entering retirement. This increase in government transfer receipts is poised to strain healthcare, Social Security, and Medicare systems while potentially exacerbating labor shortages and wage pressures. The anticipated rise in transfer payments underscores the complex interplay between fiscal policy, demographic trends, and economic health, suggesting a nuanced future for inflation and productivity in the United States.
Sources
IMF Approves $5 Billion Loan Augmentation to Boost Egypt’s Economy Amid Gaza Conflict
“Recent measures toward correcting macroeconomic imbalances, including unification of the exchange rate, clearance of the foreign exchange demand backlog, and significant tightening of monetary and fiscal policies, were difficult, but critical steps forward, and efforts should be sustained going forward.”
Source | Submitted by 0007
The Surge of Government Transfer Payments: A Looming Economic Reality
The three massive rounds of fiscal stimulus is unprecedented. A friend asked me today why the Fed could not see this coming. I explained: These guys are not wizards; they have never called a recession in real time. Bernanke denied there was a recession even after it started. He denied there was a housing bubble. They all believe in models that don’t work. And history suggests they always err on the side of being too loose. They will make the same mistakes over and over.
Source | Submitted by AaronMcKeon