Nouriel Roubini: Has the war in West Asia finally torpedoed the efficient market hypothesis?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.After decapitating the Iranian regime and bombing Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) positions for 40 days, the Trump administration has failed to secure a surrender and left Iran in control of the Strait of Hormuz. With Iran striking critical infrastructure across the Gulf Cooperation Council states and threatening shipping, the US reverted to TACO (Trump always chickens out) mode by agreeing to a ceasefire.
And now rising inflation and slowing economic activity imply a bout of stagflation—just in time to anger voters ahead of the US midterm elections. So, what happens next? There are four possible scenarios.First, the current ceasefire could lead to successful negotiations to end military hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The US does have some leverage here because its blockade of all naval traffic to and from Iranian ports is adding to the financial pressure on the regime. President Donald Trump is probably hoping that a more moderate [Iranian] faction—perhaps led by speaker of parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf—can convince hardliners that a compromise on the nuclear issue will bring sanctions relief and renewed shipping revenue through the strait.But this scenario is not very likely, because the regime can withstand economic pain far longer than Trump can (given the looming midterms).
Moreover, the two sides remain far apart on many issues, not just Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The US objects to Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programmes, its support for radical Islamist groups across West Asia, the tolls that it wants to impose on Hormuz traffic, and other matters.
Read on livemint.com