Venezuela's Cautionary Tale of Oil Dependence, Money Printing, and Stock Market Bubbles

Venezuela's economy rose and fell with oil prices. Social programs lifted people out of poverty initially but led to massive money printing and hyperinflation.

Venezuela's stock market skyrocketed in 2016 despite economic turmoil, as people exchanged bolivars for stocks to protect against currency devaluation.

Printing money can reduce wealth divide through hyperinflation but cripples the economy. The US has printed trillions recently.

Stocks may not be a good inflation hedge now like in Venezuela. Better alternatives exist like TIPS, commodities, precious metals.

Venezuela's billionaires lost their wealth. The US stock market could be distorted upwards too, disconnecting from the real economy.