There’s a 40% chance of a US recession before the 2020 election - Bridgewater founder

The U.S. economy is taking a turn for the worse and there’s a 40% chance America could experience a recession before the 2020 presidential election, according to Ray Dalio, founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates.

“Recessions are always inevitable, the only question is: ‘When?’” Dalio told CNBC’.

“I think that in the next two years, let’s say prior to the next election, there’s probably a 40% chance of a recession,” he added.

An economic slowdown globally will prompt central banks, including the U.S. Federal Reserve, to ease monetary policies even further, said Dalio. But cutting interest rates this late into the economic cycle may not be effective in stimulating the economy, he added.

If that happens, economies around the world will likely resort to weakening their currencies to boost growth, he said. A weaker currency makes exports relatively cheaper and, in some cases, benefits financial markets. “So, I think we are entering an environment that, over the next three years, you will see more currency wars. And whether there are overt interventions or whether their monetary policies that produce that,” said Dalio.