Robert Shiller on Gold, Stocks, and Investing in the Rearview Mirror

The SPDR Gold (NYS: GLD) ETF is up more than 240% since 2004. The S&P 500 stock index is about flat over that period.

Gold has unquestionably been one of the best, if not the best, assets to own in recent years. While high-quality blue chip stocks that more than doubled earnings have stagnated -- Wal-Mart and Microsoft fit that bill -- precious metals stocks like Silver Wheaton (NYS: SLW) and Yamana Gold (NYS: AUY) have been staggering successes.

But when it comes to the question of what comes next, there is room for debate. It is a classic investing miscalculation to assume that what has done well in the past will do well in the future. History proves it's usually the other way around.

A recent Gallup poll asked investors what they think will be the best long-term investment. Thirty-four percent said gold; 17% said stocks. I asked Yale economist Robert Shiller what he thought about that statistic in an exclusive interview last month. Here's what he had to say:

At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributorMorgan Houselowns shares of Wal-Mart and Microsoft. Follow him on Twitter @TMFHousel.Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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