NYU's 'Dr. Doom,' Roubini: U.S. recession could be worst in 50 years


Nouriel Roubini, the once obscure New York University economics professor who two years ago predicted the current global financial crisis, now says the United States will likely face its worst recession in 50 years.

"I expect the worst recession in 50 years," Roubini told Bloomberg News. "There will be a cumulative fall of output of 4% from the peak, and unemployment will jump to 9%."

Further, predicting that future U.S. Federal Reserve interest cuts will be ineffective, Roubini also reiterated that the U.S. economy needs "a major, aggressive fiscal stimulus, a $300-400 billion package, because private demand is collapsing."

Roubini's forecasts were once considered to be 'too harsh' or 'implausible,' due to what many economists and analysts argued were premises that were incorrect or off-the-mark. These conclusions earned Roubini the nickname 'Dr. Doom.' However, in less than two years, and especially in 2008, U.S. financial and economic fundamentals have deteriorated to such an extent, that at least in some metrics, conditions are closer to Roubini's forecasts than those of the many, mainstream economists who had scoffed at his predictions.


Economist David H. Wang said that while he still doesn't expect a recession as deep as Roubini forecasts, had federal policy makers -- especially the Bush Administration and the U.S. Congress -- responded quicker with actions "along the lines of what Roubini was calling for, the economy would not be in as bad a shape as it is today."

Specifically, Wang said Roubini's clarion call / warning about the unsustainable nature of annual, double-digit housing price increases, and later, the need for massive fiscal stimulus, were two predictions "that proved to be 100% accurate."

For the record, Wang believes the U.S. economic recession started in Q1 of this year and "will likely end in Q3 2009, with negative GDP growth of 2.0-2.5% for that period." As noted above, Roubini expects a deeper recession.

Economic Analysis: The U.S. Federal Reserve's recent downgrade of U.S. economic performance through Q2 2009 (forwarded in its Federal Reserve Minutes) provides further evidence of a likely pronounced GDP slowing up ahead, further supporting Roubini's analysis.

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