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Winter Is Coming: Examining the Economy's Eight-Body Problem

From the devastation of the service industry to never-ending central bank intervention, these factors make predicting the future of the economy nearly impossible.

Updated Sep 14, 2021, 9:46 a.m. Published Aug 21, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
(Aditya Vyas/Unsplash)
(Aditya Vyas/Unsplash)

From the devastation of the service industry to never-ending central bank intervention, these factors make predicting the future of the economy nearly impossible.

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For more episodes and free early access before our regular 3 p.m. Eastern time releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, iHeartRadio or RSS.

This episode is sponsored by Crypto.comBitstamp and Nexo.io.

The “three-body problem” is a physics issue that deals with unpredictable futures.

In a recent essay, John Mauldin argues the economy is actually experiencing an “eight-body problem.”

See also: Here Comes the Most Bizarre Bull Market Yet

On today’s episode, NLW explores each of those dimensions shaping the challenge we face, including:

  • Central bank intervention
  • The destruction of the service industry
  • The implosion of global trade

In the end, he argues that in a world ruled by chaos, fighting to control the narrative might be the only rational move.

Read Ben Hunt’s essay “The Three-Body Problem.”

For more episodes and free early access before our regular 3 p.m. Eastern time releases, subscribe with Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocketcasts, Google Podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher, RadioPublica, iHeartRadio or RSS.

Note: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinDesk, Inc. or its owners and affiliates.

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