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World Economy still Contracting.

Shrinkage is a necessity before growth in other areas or new fields can come about.

I wouldn't say job loss or a shrinking economic are automatically a bad thing. I think it depends on what jobs are being lost and what products/services are no longer being provided.
 
The_Animus said:
Shrinkage is a necessity before growth in other areas or new fields can come about.

I wouldn't say job loss or a shrinking economic are automatically a bad thing. I think it depends on what jobs are being lost and what products/services are no longer being provided.
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That sounds great..until your job is one that is lost.
 
And this, too, shall pass.

dudalb said:
That sounds great..until your job is one that is lost.
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Which is why I like the Danish system. Instead of trying to preserve unproductive jobs, the Danes focus on retraining the unemployed to help them find new, better jobs.

A combination of welfare benefits softens the social and economic blows from rising unemployment, and it provides an opportunity for improved education. Not ideal, but it makes the best of a bad situation.
 
The_Animus said:
Shrinkage is a necessity before growth in other areas or new fields can come about.
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That sounds a bit like Zero-Sum-Growth, to some extent. But anyway, my main point was that this recession is now projected to last somewhat longer than expected.

It makes me ponder as to whether any of these "experts" really have a handle on what's going on. I don't think there are many left who feel that the economy will start to see growth in the third quarter of this year anymore --- perhaps by 2010, but not 2009.

Just yesterday I noticed that a major 24 hour supermarket by me reduced its hours by 25% --- now it's only open 6 am to midnight. And a neighbor of mine who runs a gym for kids is thinking if she can still operate the summer sessions due to a drop in enrollment by over a third.
 
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Well there is almost always growth, but if by new technology, political ideology change, or some other factor there is a sudden and large need for jobs in a new market (the green movement is a good example) it likely means that other markets that used to fill this area are no longer needed. Unfortunately there is always transmission time between the job losses and job creation. And of course the recession plays a large role as well.
 
The_Animus said:
Well there is almost always growth, but if by new technology, political ideology change, or some other factor there is a sudden and large need for jobs in a new market (the green movement is a good example) it likely means that other markets that used to fill this area are no longer needed. Unfortunately there is always transmission time between the job losses and job creation. And of course the recession plays a large role as well.
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Yeah, that actually doesn't have anything to do with our current mess.
 
The vegetable seed market is going out right bananas right now...as recession gardens are popping up. That means the Woos and the recession itself is boosting one business... Mrs. Obama gave it a strong boost by planting a garden in her White House lawn.

Demand for Vegetable Seeds Is Rooted in Recession
 
Just thinking said:
Just yesterday I noticed that a major 24 hour supermarket by me reduced its hours by 25% --- now it's only open 6 am to midnight. And a neighbor of mine who runs a gym for kids is thinking if she can still operate the summer sessions due to a drop in enrollment by over a third.
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Unemployment is the stat that most everyone pays attention to. Also very important but rarely mentioned is the length of the workweek. In June the average workweek for production and nonsupervisory workers on private nonfarm payrolls fell once again to land at 33.0 hours. The lowest level ever recorded (series began in 1964).
 
Well, the world economy as a whole may not be expanding, but the head of the Bank of Canada released his economic forecast yesterday and claims that, in technical terms at least, the recession in Canada is over as he expects there to be positive economic growth in the third quarter.
 
Igopogo said:
I don't follow you. How is it 'woo' to grow vegetables in your own garden?
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I can think of 3 reasons to grow your own food. There are probably more than that.
1) Save money. I think this is ill placed reasoning. I have read a couple of studies that demonstrated that you don't save money and can often loose money when you grow your own food if you take the amount of time and effort you spend into consideration. Food logistics in wealthy countries is such a large market that it is difficult for an individual to compete with them $$$ wise.
2) Don't trust the food industry and related regulatory agencies to provide a safe and natural product. How many recalls has there been for contaminated food in the last year? I can think of 3.
3) Lack of trust in the distribution network of the food industry. What would you do if the local grocery market ran out of food? This is probably the woo Igopogo is speaking of.
 
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Nosi said:
The vegetable seed market is going out right bananas right now...as recession gardens are popping up. That means the Woos and the recession itself is boosting one business... Mrs. Obama gave it a strong boost by planting a garden in her White House lawn.

Demand for Vegetable Seeds Is Rooted in Recession
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A friend planted a recession garden.

Her husband was laid off from his high tech job. She is a teacher at a private school that is in a financial meltdown. And the summer teaching jobs that normally keep her busy have all dried up. Starting the garden didn't cost much and the lower grocery bills will help the family finances a lot. It's now woo, just a productive use of her free time.
 
Igopogo said:
No, I was wondering what 'Woos' Nosi was speaking of. I don't have a clue what is 'woo' about growing vegetables.
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Sorry. I will fix my original post. I didn't mean to refer to you. EDIT: SYstem won't let me edit my original post.
 
Igopogo said:
I don't follow you. How is it 'woo' to grow vegetables in your own garden?
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Not to grow your own garden; but attempt to grow your own food supply if the civilization goes down the drain. Note the following website:

Welcome To The Millennium Ark

The side links are mandatory reading for understanding the site's Woo, and they have a long history of plugging the purchase of seeds, as well as selling everything you own and ditching the city.
 
ServiceSoon said:
I can think of 3 reasons to grow your own food. There are probably more than that.
1) Save money. I think this is ill placed reasoning. I have read a couple of studies that demonstrated that you don't save money and can often loose money when you grow your own food if you take the amount of time and effort you spend into consideration. Food logistics in wealthy countries is such a large market that it is difficult for an individual to compete with them $$$ wise.
2) Don't trust the food industry and related regulatory agencies to provide a safe and natural product. How many recalls has there been for contaminated food in the last year? I can think of 3.
3) Lack of trust in the distribution network of the food industry. What would you do if the local grocery market ran out of food? This is probably the woo Igopogo is speaking of.
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I grow herbs to cook with. Now those things can be expensive to get fresh at the store, and cheaper to clip off the windowsill. They grow like the weeds they often are.
 
Corsair 115 said:
Well, the world economy as a whole may not be expanding, but the head of the Bank of Canada released his economic forecast yesterday and claims that, in technical terms at least, the recession in Canada is over as he expects there to be positive economic growth in the third quarter.
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Australia is in the same boat, except we never technically went into recession. A combination of extensive domestic stimulus packages and strong demand from China for minerals appear to have done the trick.
 
lionking said:
Australia is in the same boat, except we never technically went into recession. A combination of extensive domestic stimulus packages and strong demand from China for minerals appear to have done the trick.
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Our cart is hitched to the U.S. so when it slows down Canada feels the effect as well. But things are not as bad here as they might be. One of the more interesting curiosities has been the national unemployment rate. For about thirty-five years, it was always about a percentage point or so higher than the rate in the U.S. Then, starting a couple of years ago, our rate edged lower than the American rate, and even through the economic downturn it's been staying roughly a half a percentage point below U.S. numbers.
 
lionking said:
Australia is in the same boat, except we never technically went into recession. A combination of extensive domestic stimulus packages and strong demand from China for minerals appear to have done the trick.
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That is good to hear. Unfortunately, we (the world) aren't out of this one yet.
 
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