Bond yield curves in negative territory

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Question: 

I just saw this quote in Seeking Alpha by "Goldmoney": "Entire AAA-rated bond yield curves are likely to be forced into negative territory, following the Swiss government bond market, which is already there. The denial of time-value will mean a government bond with no final redemption date priced at less than infinity will be technically a bargain. That is the measure of distortion." My background is statistics. I'm trying to teach myself economics. Thanks in advance.

Answer: 

The unusually shaped yield curve was in the news the other day. But it was attributed to the Fed buying 10-year T-notes, which temporarily lowered their yields relative to notes/bonds with shorter maturity. It sounds to me the quote cited by the author tries to extrapolate and make a statement about “perpetual” government bonds (“consoles”), which is not something governments are presently issuing. It is a problematic statement subject to the classical “Lucas critique.”

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Last updated on July 31, 2020