Cem Karsan: Wartime economy reshapes global markets, political populism drives inflation trends, and authoritarianism threatens economic stability

Key Takeaways

• The current global economy is heavily influenced by wartime conditions, impacting economic, military, and strategic asset dynamics.
• Global conflicts are expected to intensify, suggesting increased volatility in markets.
• Deglobalization and geopolitical tensions are reshaping market behaviors and economic strategies.
• Political populism is a significant force driving economic trends, including inflation and yield curve changes.
• Authoritarianism poses a potential threat to populist movements, potentially increasing volatility.
• The US’s actions in Greenland are strategic, aimed at influencing European military policies.
• The narrative around a potential US invasion of Greenland serves strategic purposes rather than indicating actual intent.
• The global conflict is primarily economic and strategic, with a likelihood of escalation.
• The complexities of global politics extend beyond simplistic board game analogies, with long-term consequences for soft power.
• Economic inequality and political dynamics are intertwined, influencing global market rotations.
• Strategic asset conflicts are a defining feature of the current geopolitical climate.
• Understanding geopolitical narratives is crucial for interpreting international relations and market implications.
• The persistence of populism is expected to continue shaping economic policies and outcomes.
• The rise of authoritarianism could disrupt economic trends driven by populism.
• The geopolitical landscape is characterized by complex interactions between major world powers.

Guest intro

Cem Karsan is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Kai Volatility Advisors. He founded the firm in 2010 after building Precision Capital Management, a proprietary market-making firm that represented approximately 13% of daily S&P 500 options volume at its peak during the Great Financial Crisis. Karsan heads research and risk management while overseeing portfolio construction and firm-wide strategy.

The wartime economy and its implications

• We are in a wartime economy characterized by economic, military, and strategic asset conflicts.

  — Cem Karsan

• The current economic environment is distinct from normal conditions due to ongoing global conflicts.

• This is a wartime economy if people don’t see that yet or think about it in that way they’re missing the boat.

  — Cem Karsan

• Understanding the geopolitical climate is crucial for grasping the economic implications.
• The wartime economy involves strategic bidding for assets by major global powers.

• This is an economy where the biggest powers of the world bid for strategic assets.

  — Cem Karsan

• Market dynamics are influenced by deglobalization and geopolitical tensions.
• The wartime economy suggests a need for strategic planning in investment and economic policy.
• Economic strategies are increasingly shaped by geopolitical considerations.

Escalating global conflicts

• The global conflict is likely to escalate rather than de-escalate.

  — Cem Karsan

• Increasing volatility is expected as global tensions rise.
• Geopolitical tensions have significant economic implications, requiring careful analysis.

• It is likely to continue to get hotter not cooler.

  — Cem Karsan

• Strategic planning must account for the potential escalation of conflicts.
• Understanding the trajectory of global conflicts is essential for investors.
• The interplay between major world powers is a key factor in escalating tensions.
• The likelihood of increased conflict necessitates a focus on strategic asset management.

The impact of political populism

• The political populist wave will continue to influence economic trends over the next several years.

  — Cem Karsan

• Populism is driving long-term trends of higher inflation and a steepening yield curve.

• What we’re seeing… is a multiyear trend that started in 2020 of higher inflation steepening yield curve in our opinion.

  — Cem Karsan

• Political movements have a direct impact on economic indicators.
• The persistence of populism shapes economic policies and market dynamics.
• Populist trends are expected to overcome political resistance over time.
• Economic strategies must consider the influence of populism on market trends.
• The relationship between political movements and economic outcomes is critical for analysis.

Authoritarianism and its potential effects

• The rise of authoritarianism could disrupt the populist movement prioritizing median outcomes.

  — Cem Karsan

• Authoritarianism poses a threat to populist-driven economic trends.
• Increased volatility and structural unrest may result from authoritarian influences.

• That only should increase the volatility and the structural unrest that I see unfortunately coming our way.

  — Cem Karsan

• Understanding the potential impact of authoritarianism is crucial for strategic planning.
• The interplay between authoritarianism and populism affects economic stability.
• Investors must be aware of the potential disruptions caused by authoritarian trends.
• The rise of authoritarianism is a significant factor in economic and political analysis.

Strategic moves in Greenland

• The situation regarding Greenland is a tactical move by the US to encourage European military spending and troop deployment.

  — Cem Karsan

• The US’s actions are aimed at influencing European military policies.

• In my opinion, this is an effort to give Europe cover to increase military spending.

  — Cem Karsan

• The narrative around Greenland serves strategic purposes beyond surface-level interpretations.

• The US is not invading Greenland; that’s not the real story.

  — Cem Karsan

• Understanding geopolitical narratives is crucial for interpreting international relations.
• The complexity of geopolitical strategies requires careful analysis of underlying motivations.
• The US’s strategic moves highlight the importance of military alliances in global politics.

The nature of global conflicts

• The current global conflict is primarily economic and strategic, and it’s likely to escalate rather than de-escalate.

  — Cem Karsan

• Economic and strategic conflicts define the current geopolitical landscape.
• The trajectory of global conflicts suggests increased volatility and strategic challenges.

• We are in a distinct global conflict that is economic that is military right and that is strategic asset focused.

  — Cem Karsan

• Understanding the nature of global conflicts is essential for strategic analysis.
• The interplay between economic and strategic factors influences global dynamics.
• The likelihood of escalation requires a focus on strategic asset management.
• The complexities of global conflicts extend beyond simplistic interpretations.

The role of soft power in global politics

• The game of global politics is not like the board game Risk; it has long-term consequences that can degrade soft power.

  — Cem Karsan

• Soft power plays a crucial role in international relations and geopolitical strategies.
• Short-term thinking in geopolitical strategies can have long-term consequences.

• The world is not actually a game of risk there are much bigger long term consequences.

  — Cem Karsan

• Understanding the importance of soft power is essential for strategic analysis.
• The complexities of international relations require careful consideration of soft power dynamics.
• The risks of short-term thinking highlight the need for strategic planning in global politics.
• The interplay between soft power and geopolitical strategies influences global outcomes.