Inflation is still running high, and many still believe that it’s a temporary post-pandemic phenomenon. However, structural changes taking place in the economy suggest that prices may not go back to normal anytime soon. Some economists and investors have argued that excessive stimulus spending and money creation to fight the pandemic are the real culprits causing inflation. They claim that inflation is a product of policy decisions, rather than a coincidence. Despite the loss of economic output and jobs, U.S. household wealth has surged by a staggering $32 trillion since the start of the pandemic thanks to unprecedented stimulus spending. The Fed’s balance sheet has swelled by more than $4 trillion as a result of its quantitative easing program, which increased money supply in the economy and encouraged lending. Congress has also allocated about $5.3 trillion in relief to Americans. All of these actions boosted aggregate demand and consumer spending when the …