Passive investing mechanics distort price discovery
The guest argued that passive investing has transformed markets into mechanical systems that reflect model rules rather than collective crowd wisdom, structurally increasing systemic volatility.
The argument
The guest argued that passive flows automatically allocate more capital to rising assets in equities and higher-priced bonds, creating feedback loops that distort price signals and duration exposure. This mechanical behavior creates massive inefficiencies, such as the Treasury basis trade exploited by highly leveraged hedge funds.