Political Gridlock 'Not Good News' for Today's Markets: El-Erian

The conventional wisdom that Washington political gridlock is good for markets may not hold up this time, economist Mohamed El-Erian suggested Wednesday.

“We have to understand that it depends what path you think the economy is on,” the Allianz chief economic advisor said on CNBC’s Squawk Box as officials counted votes from Tuesday’s election to determine control of the U.S. House and Senate.

In 2010, the economy was on a similar path, meaning it would decline without stimulus from the Federal Reserve, he noted.

“This time around, the Fed cannot step in and provide stimulus. So I don’t think it’s good news that we’re not going to get anything out of Congress over the next two years,” El-Erian said.

“We need to focus on a new growth model, we need to take the supply side more seriously, and I do think there’s a problem that the emphasis will immediately shift to the election in two years’ time and very little will get done,” he said.

Apart from the election, El-Erian suggested the market hasn’t yet taken liquidity risk into account.