When asked how to unwind the world’s huge borrowings, he said when debt becomes a big share of the economy, the situation “tends to compound and accelerate” as interest payments also grow. “We’re at that turning point of acceleration.”
While the size of the deficit is going to require the US to sell a lot of bonds to investors around the world, it’s difficult to keep interest rates at a level that’s attractive for creditors to hold, but not too high to harm the issuer, Dalio said. When investors choose to sell, pushing up yields, the central bank will need to decide whether to print money and buy bonds, which will drive up inflation pressures, he added.
“We’re seeing that dynamic happen now,” Dalio said. “I personally believe that the bonds, longer term, are not a good investment.”
Later in the conversation at the conference, when asked about his advice on how to deploy capital as a newcomer, Dalio stressed the need to diversify, pay attention to disruptions, and pick those who can use the new technologies in the best way.
