BAML: These 3 policy concerns 'keep us up at night' ahead of the US presidential election
The election has become one of the "most significant near-term risks" for the economy and markets, according to a note by Bank of America's macro team led by Lisa Berlin.
On the downside, the team notes concerns over trade and the Fed, but on the upside, we could see some additional fiscal stimulus. Regardless of a Democrat or Republican in the White House, the risk of a slowdown due to uncertainty in the coming months is high.
Who's it going to be?
As the debates go on and millions of viewers weigh in, the polls and political betting market odds are constantly changing.
The BAML note presents two prediction measures that suggest different results. Political betting markets like the Iowa Electronic Markets and PredictWise predict that Clinton has a 70-75% chance of winning the election. Meanwhile, Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight, a polling aggregator, has shown a dramatically closer race with Clinton's chances recently hovering at only around 60%, although in the wake of polling after the first debate, Silver's model shows somewhat improved odds for Clinton.
According to the betting markets, the likelihood of Republicans retaining control of the House is high, running at 70-90%, and the probability of Democrats taking control of the Senate is almost a coin flip at about 40-60%.
The note thus suggests that the most likely outcome is a split government, with Clinton in the White House and Republicans controlling the House, continuing the gridlock in Washington. This outcome is assumed in the team's baseline economic forecasts and doesn't present big policy changes.
A Republican sweep, however, could lead to a sell-off in the markets and delay a December rate hike by the Fed.
Three key policy areas that have the team at BAML concerned are fiscal spending and tax policy, foreign trade policy, and attitudes towards the Federal Reserve.
Fiscal
The team expects only modest fiscal stimulus under either administration.
According to the note: "The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) estimates that Clinton's plans would be largely deficit neutral, adding about $200bn to the debt level over the coming decade. By contrast, they estimate that Trump's plans would add a much larger $5.3tn over the decade. Clinton's plan consists of nearly balanced increases in taxes and increases in spending, while Trump's plan is dominated by a major tax cut."
Trade
The President has wide authority to impose tariffs or quotas on imports and regulate foreign commerce.
While Clinton has some hesitation over trade deals such as NAFTA and the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership in their current forms, Trump has been extremely critical of the agreements and of similar trade deals, notes the team.
Trump has also suggested imposing a 35% tariff on imports from Mexico, a 45% tariff on imports from China and pulling out of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics report, "foreign countries will soon retaliate" and "enormous economic damage to US firms, workers, and communities could ensue from a trade war."
This anti-trade tone could increase hostilities and damage US-foreign relations more broadly, said Berlin. "We have to consider the risk that there are trade disruptions which would negatively impact the economy."
The Fed
While Clinton has not commented on the Fed and would likely retain Janet Yellen as Chair, Trump has been vocal about not reappointing Yellen and has criticized the Fed for keeping rates low, allegedly for political reasons. Trump is also in favor of legislation that would compromise the independence of the central bank by further auditing Fed policy decisions.
According to Berlin, "Curbing Fed independence could damage confidence in the dollar and hurt the special status of the US as the center of global capital markets."
The real sleepless nights stem from the uncertainty - not knowing which way this election will swing and which policies to expect and prepare for. It's quite possible that the US economy could hit a soft patch in the months to come, one that won't subside until there is a clear winner in the White House.