Shrinkflation & Jackson Hole

Today is a day that has become quietly (or not so quietly) famous in market and global economic circles. Today is the Friday of the annual Jackson Hole Economic Symposium held in the city of same name in Wyoming since 1978. The “summit” is organized by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and gathers central bankers, economists and policy makers from around the world. Friday at Jackson Hole has evolved to become an occasion when the US Federal Reserve Chairman serves up his or her keynote speech.

One key topic of the speech will be inflation: is inflation still around and how to contain it. Fed Chair Jerome Powell will probably not mention shrinkflation but he will mention inflation.

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The Economics of a Hole In One

Despite holding an MBA in finance and the CFP certification, the “economics” of a Hole in One are over my head. It is summer, so the topic is relevant – and there have been one or more Holes in One per month for the last year at my golf club. Even pickle-ballers can sound in on this one.

A Hole in One for a golfer – from professional to putt-putt – is a big deal! On a regulation golf course, public or private, there are actual (unwritten but established) rules around the accomplishment ranging from:

  • Tradition since the beginning of time holding that the person scoring the “ace” buys everyone in the clubhouse a cocktail or drink.
  • Local members of golf clubs and friends are known to have driven from home to participate in the “free drink” celebration. (Hold the thought: “free drink”).

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