The Greeks votedno to the European Union's terms, despite warnings from the EU that rejecting new austerity terms would set their country on a path out of the Eurozone. 62% voted "No" while 38% voted "Yes".
Misses the point. The economy as a whole might recover naturally and quickly (a few years), but a few years with no income can be really bad for the tiny cogs in that economy.
Greece has a present day long term unemployment rate of almost 20% [tradingeconomics.com]. They've done plenty of Keynesian games without doing anything to actually improve their society and it shows.
Economics is social science, not Ango-Austrian fanboyism. Contraction is a self-reinforcing downward spiral, not just a minor problem. This was Keynes insight. Austerity will only produce more austerity, and ultimately all economies will be sucked down the drain with it. So what is this, "end of times" capitalism"?
Contraction is a self-reinforcing downward spiral, not just a minor problem.
Except of course, that it's not. One could make similar arguments for economic bubbles and one would be wrong for similar reasons. To maintain the downward spiral indefinitely, one needs almost everyone on board. But at some point, you will buy stuff. And the further down the spiral went, the less activity is required to reverse it. And once everyone realizes that the contraction is over, their behavior changes and we have economic growth once again.
Austerity will only produce more austerity, and ultimately all economies will be sucked down the drain with it.
Unless, of course, it doesn't do that.
So what is this, "end of times" capitalism"?
If you break capitalism, then it's not going to work. Plenty of countries have capitalism-based systems that are working just fine. Why can't Greece be one of those countries?
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday July 06 2015, @01:38PM
Keynesian stimulus spending is supposed to take place in the context of a mostly healthy economy that is suffering from some short term pain.
In other words, an economy where it would have recovered naturally and quickly anyway.
(Score: 2) by SecurityGuy on Monday July 06 2015, @02:00PM
Misses the point. The economy as a whole might recover naturally and quickly (a few years), but a few years with no income can be really bad for the tiny cogs in that economy.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday July 06 2015, @02:09PM
but a few years with no income can be really bad for the tiny cogs in that economy.
A few decades without income can be even worse.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2015, @02:46PM
And so can asteroid hit. Which is about as insightful as your post.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday July 07 2015, @12:15AM
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Monday July 06 2015, @09:47PM
Economics is social science, not Ango-Austrian fanboyism. Contraction is a self-reinforcing downward spiral, not just a minor problem. This was Keynes insight. Austerity will only produce more austerity, and ultimately all economies will be sucked down the drain with it. So what is this, "end of times" capitalism"?
(Score: 1, Insightful) by khallow on Tuesday July 07 2015, @12:12AM
Contraction is a self-reinforcing downward spiral, not just a minor problem.
Except of course, that it's not. One could make similar arguments for economic bubbles and one would be wrong for similar reasons. To maintain the downward spiral indefinitely, one needs almost everyone on board. But at some point, you will buy stuff. And the further down the spiral went, the less activity is required to reverse it. And once everyone realizes that the contraction is over, their behavior changes and we have economic growth once again.
Austerity will only produce more austerity, and ultimately all economies will be sucked down the drain with it.
Unless, of course, it doesn't do that.
So what is this, "end of times" capitalism"?
If you break capitalism, then it's not going to work. Plenty of countries have capitalism-based systems that are working just fine. Why can't Greece be one of those countries?