Jeremy Grantham: With Great Depression II Nowhere in Sight, Look to the "Emerging Markets Bubble" for Maximum Profits

The good news is that we have not fallen off into another Great Depression. With the degree of stimulus there seemed little chance of that, and we have consistently expected a global economic recovery by late this year or early next year.

The operating ratio for industrial production reached its lowest level in decades. It should bounce back and, if it moves up from 68 to 80 over three to five years, will provide a good kicker to that part of the economy. Inventories, I believe, will also recover.

In short, the normal tendency of an economy to recover is nearly irresistible and needs coordinated incompetence to offset it - like the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which helped to precipitate a global trade war. But this does not mean that everything is fine longer term.