---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're in a chronic debt-deflation…"
description: "\"We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's no way we can recover unless you write down the debts. And that's what the IMF basically is implying (and it..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png"
---

#  We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's no way we can…

![“We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's no way we can recover unless you write down the debts. And that's what the IMF basically is implying (and it was explicit regarding Greece), but its not spelling it out, because that's not what can be said in polite company.” quote by Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png)

> “We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's no way we can recover unless you write down the debts. And that's what the IMF basically is implying (and it was explicit regarding Greece), but its not spelling it out, because that's not what can be said in polite company.”

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Chronic debt deflation persists; debt write‑downs are essential for recovery, though politically taboo.

**In simple terms:** Debt must be reduced to recover.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for transparent debt restructuring.

Themes

economics policy debt politics

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

economic policy

When to use this quote

- government budgeting
- bankruptcy negotiations
- international finance
- policy reform

Key Concepts

deflation financial crisis sovereign debt

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies overcome taboo around debt forgiveness?
- What alternatives exist if debt write‑downs are blocked?

A Different Perspective

Political resistance may block necessary debt relief measures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Deflation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deflation/) [Greece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greece/) [Imf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imf/) [Polite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polite/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [Debt deflation is when there's less money that people have to spend out of their paychecks on goods and services, because they're paying the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/debt-deflation-is-when-there-s-less-money-that-people-have-to-spend/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [There are two definitions of deflation. Most people think of it simply as prices going down. But debt deflation is what happens when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/there-are-two-definitions-of-deflation-most-people-think-of-it-simply/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [More and more money is being extracted from of the production and consumption economy to pay the FIRE sector. That's what causes debt deflation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/more-and-more-money-is-being-extracted-from-of-the-production-and/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [So we are in for years of debt deflation. That means that people have to pay so much debt service for mortgages, credit cards,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/so-we-are-in-for-years-of-debt-deflation-that-means-that-people-have/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [The current U.S. and Eurozone depression isn't because of China. It's because of domestic debt deflation. Commodity prices and consumer spending are falling, mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/the-current-u-s-and-eurozone-depression-isn-t-because-of-china-it-s/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [The United States and Europe are in a state of debt deflation, where people and businesses have to pay banks instead of spending their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/the-united-states-and-europe-are-in-a-state-of-debt-deflation-where/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [People think of a business cycle, which is a boom followed by a recession and then automatic stabilizers revive the economy. But this time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/people-think-of-a-business-cycle-which-is-a-boom-followed-by-a/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [We're at the end of long cycle that began in 1945, loading the economy with debt. We're not going to be able to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-at-the-end-of-long-cycle-that-began-in-1945-loading-the-economy/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [“Bankers are seeking to capture government and make financial policy immune from democratic choice. What promised to be a progressive social democratic Europe half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/bankers-are-seeking-to-capture-government-and-make-financial-policy/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [When they say inflation is bad, deflation is good, what they mean is, more money for us 1% is good; we're all for asset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/when-they-say-inflation-is-bad-deflation-is-good-what-they-mean-is/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Basically, unless you're willing to write down debts and save the economy, you're going to have deflation and a steady drain in purchasing power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/basically-unless-you-re-willing-to-write-down-debts-and-save-the/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Deflation means a slowdown of income growth. Markets shrink, new capital investment and employment also taper off, so wages decline. That is what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/deflation-means-a-slowdown-of-income-growth-markets-shrink-new/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Deflation is a leakage from this circular flow, to pay banks and the real estate, called the FIRE sector - finance, insurance and real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/deflation-is-a-leakage-from-this-circular-flow-to-pay-banks-and-the/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [When there's deflation, it means that although most markets are shrinking and people have less to spend, the 1% that hold the 99% in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/when-there-s-deflation-it-means-that-although-most-markets-are/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [“In such processes the economic system's reactions to a movement of the economy amplify the movement--inflation feeds upon inflation and debt-deflation feeds upon debt-deflation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-such-processes-the-economic-system-s-reactions-to-a-movement-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Michael Hudson

> [Europe is creating the flight of refugees that's tearing it apart politically, and leading rightwing nationalist parties to gain power to withdraw from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/europe-is-creating-the-flight-of-refugees-that-s-tearing-it-apart/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [This is not really currency that circulates. It's like the old joke about expensive vintage wine. Wine prices will go up and once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/this-is-not-really-currency-that-circulates-it-s-like-the-old-joke/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Nobody prefers to earn income any more, because that's taxable. Rich people prefer to make capital gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/nobody-prefers-to-earn-income-any-more-because-that-s-taxable-rich/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Nothing could be better for the economy than to get rid of fracking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/nothing-could-be-better-for-the-economy-than-to-get-rid-of-fracking/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [If you end internet neutrality and permit mergers of the big information technology corporations, that's a form of rent seeking. It's part of today's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/if-you-end-internet-neutrality-and-permit-mergers-of-the-big/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Deflation means a slowdown of income growth. Markets shrink, new capital investment and employment also taper off, so wages decline. That is what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/deflation-means-a-slowdown-of-income-growth-markets-shrink-new/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [What's bad for the frackers usually is good for the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/what-s-bad-for-the-frackers-usually-is-good-for-the-rest-of-the-world/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [You could say that the vote to withdraw from Europe is, it's really a vote of the British middle class, the working class, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/you-could-say-that-the-vote-to-withdraw-from-europe-is-it-s-really-a/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Actually, high housing prices don't help the economy. They raise the cost of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/actually-high-housing-prices-don-t-help-the-economy-they-raise-the/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [When economists speak of money, they neglect that all money and credit is debt. That is the essence of bookkeeping and accounting. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/when-economists-speak-of-money-they-neglect-that-all-money-and-credit/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [The United States and Europe are in a state of debt deflation, where people and businesses have to pay banks instead of spending their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/the-united-states-and-europe-are-in-a-state-of-debt-deflation-where/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [On the flat tax, the more you compress the tax rates, the more you untax where the income is really made, at the top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/on-the-flat-tax-the-more-you-compress-the-tax-rates-the-more-you/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Income is sucked upward to the creditors, who then foreclose on the assets of debtors. This shrinks tax revenue, forcing public budgets into deficit.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/income-is-sucked-upward-to-the-creditors-who-then-foreclose-on-the/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [Debtor countries may postpone the inevitable by borrowing from the IMF or U.S. Treasury to buy out bondholders. This saves the latter from taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/debtor-countries-may-postpone-the-inevitable-by-borrowing-from-the/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

> [No price is too high to pay to try to make the financial system go on a little bit longer. But ultimately it can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/no-price-is-too-high-to-pay-to-try-to-make-the-financial-system-go-on/)

[Michael Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

[Explore all 184 Michael Hudson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's no way we can recover unless you write down the debts. And that's what the IMF basically is implying (and it was explicit regarding Greece), but its not spelling it out, because that's not what can be said in polite company.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Hudson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there-s-no-way-we-can-recover/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there-s-no-way-we-can-recover/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/michael-hudson-2134_business_we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there_1417408.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's no way we can recover unless you write down the debts. And that's…” — Michael Hudson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Hudson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-hudson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We're in a chronic debt-deflation. There's...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there-s-no-way-we-can-recover/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-hudson/we-re-in-a-chronic-debt-deflation-there-s-no-way-we-can-recover/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
