Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Recognizing Real Economic Recovery


I've come up with a method of tracking economic gains in your area...on your own. It all started with the question: "Why the heck do we watch the stock market anymore?" It's so very politicized and, thus, gimp as an economic tracker. Same goes for the Treasury department and all the other 'politically recognized' tracking institutions along with all their numbers, figures, and projections. My alternative: food serving staff.

Waiters and waitresses, restaurants and bars: these jobs are a direct beneficiary of real economic recovery. If property ownership is easily and plausibly attained, they can own houses; if real unemployment begins falling and consumer confidence is really on the rise, tip revenue rises and the work/reward ratio becomes more favorable. When the economy falters in one area or another, these 'little guys' suffer much more than others and in much more diversified ways.

This diversification enables a secure tracking system no matter what policies businesses have to......endure; for instance, if taxes climb and reduce extra cash-on-hand, servers at Restaurant Toulouse in Saugatuck suffer more than, say, a Bob Evans franchise. Well...there's more to this line of thinking but I think I've gotten the basic point across...some econ nerd should test this theory out...

I hope you're all well and surviving Il Duce...Katelyn's mother was talking to the few of us sometime over the weekend about something to do with Obama's car companies (I have a bad memory...just look at my report cards) and reminded all of us to accept that we cant change Granholbama's policies and that we must acheive our happiness through looking forward to the bright, post-Obama future for America's.

2 comments:

Faith Steketee said...

Hi Chris - Sorry for posting such a late comment, but I couldn't help myself. . . . . . .

My own personal economic indicator is the gas station next door. When people have money in their pockets they tend to fill their tank whenever they get gas.

On the other hand, if people are feeling the economic pinch they tend to put "just enough" in their tank - sometimes as little as $5.00 at a time.

Chris Wicker said...

Interesting...you can really combine the two: the server would be residually effected quickly and harshly, thus only maintaining the minimal upkeep on their cars (low gas, not painting rust, delaying an oil change, etc.).

This is one of those things people in political circles can talk on endlessly about, isnt it?