I am aware of the basic arguments behind inflation/deflation, and neither is good in excess.

Typically central banks targets inflation of 2% these days, but we all know the real inflation for necessities is far higher (>4%). Inflation disproportionately affects the poorer - rich people have the fast majority of their wealth “stored” in stocks or real estate, which rise in valuation as people rush into these markets to protect the little they have. I’d argue that inflation rates are artificially pushed far higher then is sustainable, simply because those who decide are the same people who benefit the most.

I consider a low but predictable inflation rate about 1% ideal (0-2% is acceptable short term variation) for the following reasons:

• No one has to worry about debasing/devaluing your currency by injecting more supply.
• Nobody “passively” gains wealth by sitting on it.
• If you want to keep your wealth, you have to take some risk and use it.
• Inflation rate is not so high, that you need super high risk investments to keep up, making it more accessible to small players.
• Large player can not as easily game the market by skimming of value from the lower to upper middle class.

Yes, this idea is not without risks. But the way I see it the forced “we have to improve value by 2% every year” exponential grow can only go on so long before we (humanity) hit the finite limits of this planet.