Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, stated that he favored abolishing the debt limit, giving the government the faculties to extend its debt without congressional action. Dimon also stated that even the drama surrounding the build-up to extending or not extending the debt limit could cause panic, as the U.S. economy is foundational for the world.
JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon Favors an Unlimited Debt Ceiling
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, one of the largest banks in the world, has given his opinion when it comes to the issue of the congressional discussion on raising the debt limit to avoid possible default in the U.S. In an interview given to Punchbowl, a U.S. politics-focused outlet, Dimon stated that he favors the abolition of the debt limit, and warned about the effects of the drama surrounding the congressional discussions to negotiate a debt limit increase.
About the debt limit, Dimon declared:
I hope we avoid it. I hope, one day, we get rid of it.
The executive also stated that even getting close to defaulting is dangerous for the American and the world economy, as it puts doubts on the capabilities of the U.S. government to honor its debts. He stated:
On the default itself, think of it in two pieces: the run-up to a default and an actual default. It’s even bad to have the run-up to default because that can question American debt ratings. We’re foundational to the economy of the world.
The Political Element and Possible Panic
Dimon, who has been at the helm of JPMorgan since 2005, is no stranger to the political aspect of the discussion, having also lived through the 2008 economic crisis. He believes that this can lead to taking wrong decisions as Congress tries to reach an agreement on the subject. He explained:
I think there’s a higher chance of a mistake here because of the politics of the situation.
Finally, he concluded by stating that this situation could cause panic and that this panic can lead to irrationality, creating unwanted turmoil in U.S. and world markets. He remarked:
This can cause panic. And you’ve seen, panic isn’t necessarily a rational thing. People panic. And when you see people panic — that’s ’08, ’09 again, and that’s really what you want to avoid.
On May 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned that the U.S. government could default as early as June 1 without Congress’s intervention.
What do you think about JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s take on the debt limit issue and its effects? Tell us in the comment section below.
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