
#351 Jay Pelosky: The ‘EMification of America’ — The U.S. No Longer Deserves Its Premium Valuation
The Julia La Roche Show
Global growth long cycle intact
Jay explains the long-cycle thesis driven by AI, defense, and climate spending and why Iran won't derail it.
Jay Pelosky, founder of TPW Advisory, makes the case that the U.S. no longer deserves its premium valuation — and that the biggest investing opportunity in decades is happening everywhere else.
Jay's framework, the Tri-Polar World thesis, argues that regional integration across Europe, Asia and the Americas is the dominant force shaping the global economy. Built on 30+ years of global macro experience, his view is that a global growth long cycle — driven by government and private sector spending on AI, defense and renewable energy — remains firmly intact, and that the Iran conflict may actually accelerate it.
His most provocative argument: the "EMification of America." The U.S. is increasingly exhibiting the volatile policymaking, concentrated power and institutional erosion typically associated with emerging markets — and yet still trades at a premium valuation. That, he says, is the disconnect that defines the next decade of investing.
Where does he see opportunity? Emerging markets — particularly China and Latin America — copper miners, commodities broadly, and the intersection of renewable energy and autonomous defense technology. He has held no long duration developed market sovereign debt for years.
Links:
Subscribe to Jay's Substack: https://jaypelosky.substack.com/
Learn more about TPW Advisory: https://pelosky.com/
Timestamps
0:00 — "The US doesn't deserve its premium valuation"
0:26 — Welcome Jay Pelosky
1:00 — Is the global growth long cycle being derailed by Iran?
4:00 — AI, defense & climate as existential government spending drivers
6:30 — Oil price sensitivity today vs. the 1970s — why it's different this time
9:10 — The contrarian take: Iran could actually boost global growth
14:20 — TACO Trump & the search for an off-ramp
18:06 — Why Iran is the best advertisement for renewable energy ever
19:55 — Secular shift: the baton of global equity leadership passing to EM
21:05 — Why 2025 was just year one of US underperformance
24:00 — China, ASEAN & the reduced dependence on the US consumer
25:00 — Europe forced to confront reality: the US is no longer an ally 26:18 — The petrodollar at risk; the yuan's rising role 28:41 — US valuation erosion: gradual, not a crash
32:08 — What is the "EMification of America"?
36:32 — The American investor dilemma: wanting America to win vs. global opportunity
38:45 — China within EM: rare earths, digital & physical power shift
41:00 — China's lead in renewables, embodied AI and automation
42:36 — China defeating deflation; potential US-China rapprochement
43:05 — Portfolio positioning: overweight equities & commodities
44:00 — Specific ETF ideas: COPX, ILF, SMH and China equities
47:10 — Parting thoughts & where to find Jay


