Credit Crisis. It’s serious. There’s a long explanation for the loss of value. This is the short one.

There’s a long explanation for the loss of value.

This is the short one.

But… Weren’t we making money? Yes.

We had… Economic Growth. GDP, total goods & services. Production. And, Consumption.

GDP, total goods & services. Production.

And, Consumption.

A Bigger Pie.

The Pie could grow by: Increases in productivity & Innovation. Or…

Increases in productivity & Innovation.

Or…

Sin. Oops. Pride. Sloth. Lust. Greed. Gluttony. Wraith. Envy.

Pride.

Sloth.

Lust.

Greed.

Gluttony.

Wraith.

Envy.

Same old sins. Asset bubble. Debt binge. Wall Street. With no more suckers at the bottom of the pyramid…

… And with no exit strategy. Oh, and like the Titanic, First Class survived.

Oh, and like the Titanic, First Class survived.

As, we loaded up with debt. Or if we didn’t. Our Friends & Family did. Our Employer, too. Our Banks, more! Our Government, most. There were great expectations , you see.

Or if we didn’t.

Our Friends & Family did.

Our Employer, too.

Our Banks, more!

Our Government, most.

First, Our Kids. If you didn’t borrow… Well, other parents could do more for their kids. Debt or… less for your kids. Not a palatable choice. So, ‘GULP’ … and, sign. So, Debt…

If you didn’t borrow…

Well, other parents could do more for their kids.

Debt or… less for your kids.

Not a palatable choice.

So, ‘GULP’ … and, sign.

So, Debt…

Competition. If you didn’t borrow, or buy shares of people who did, or invest, your income probably shrunk further. Even your idiot cousin bought a really nice car. So, yes, Debt.

If you didn’t borrow, or buy shares of people who did, or invest, your income probably shrunk further.

Even your idiot cousin bought a really nice car.

So, yes, Debt.

And, Temptation. So, ah, Debt…

So, ah, Debt…

Bankers said. Growth would never end. This time it was different. Not too hard, either.

Growth would never end.

This time it was different.

Not too hard, either.

Now, Regret. It was ‘different’ before. In the 1920s. Then came the 1930s .

It was ‘different’ before.

In the 1920s.

Then came the 1930s .

We drank the Kool Aid…

And now got less Pie. Middle-class wealth has shrunk despite ‘Growth’. And the minimum wage is not going anywhere. So, who got more Pie?

Middle-class wealth has shrunk despite ‘Growth’.

And the minimum wage is not going anywhere.

So, who got more Pie?

Not workers. Jobs, offshore.

Let’s ask thy neighbour. Dumped products. Unsafe conditions. Slavery. Pollution. He got crust.

Dumped products.

Unsafe conditions.

Slavery.

Pollution.

He got crust.

Money lenders in temples? You can tell who society considers important by the height of buildings. Mmm...

You can tell who society considers important by the height of buildings.

Mmm...

If only… we had an ethical guide. There was a book written about ethics once. The Bible. It underpins our laws. Greenspan said it was ‘complex’.

There was a book written about ethics once.

The Bible.

It underpins our laws.

The Torah & Koran have something to say about ethics too.

What’s Next? Well, we have to hand back all the ill-gotten gains of the last few years first. And stock & property markets are doing that. How much is given up will depend on future growth. Yes, it’s right to be angry . Otherwise nothing will change.

Well, we have to hand back all the ill-gotten gains of the last few years first.

And stock & property markets are doing that.

How much is given up will depend on future growth.

Yes, it’s right to be angry . Otherwise nothing will change.

But, don’t Envy. I shared an armrest. On a European flight. With head honcho of a major consultancy. He consulted to money lenders. As did I. I talked about my ideas about innovation. He snorted ‘winners & losers’. He meant “I am a bigger winner than you.”

I shared an armrest.

On a European flight. With head honcho of a major consultancy.

He consulted to money lenders.

As did I. I talked about my ideas about innovation.

He snorted ‘winners & losers’. He meant “I am a bigger winner than you.”

You may have lost money. But he lost something. Something very valuable. He was the most miserable single human I ever met. A wrecked wretch. Well, at least he’ll be warm.

You may have lost money.

But he lost something.

Something very valuable.

He was the most miserable single human I ever met.

A wrecked wretch.

Economic policy is just a theory that hasn’t failed. Yet. Or… not too badly. Speaking of which, this is Milton Friedman. So, Milton. How do you feel now?

But even Economists agree. True Economic Growth is derived from productivity & innovation. They don’t agree much. Producing innovation. That makes life better. Image from Lietuvos nacionalinis muziejus (National Museum of Lithuania)

Producing innovation.

That makes life better.

That’s Local Innovation. Jobs. Arts. Culture. Community. It’s the only thing that works. And the only thing that ever did.

Jobs.

Arts.

Culture.

Community.

It’s the only thing that works.

And the only thing that ever did.

Local Innovation. Local Economy. Local Jobs. That’s the 2thinknow view.

That’s the 2thinknow view.

2thinknow predicted in 2007 the current economic crisis including the US September shock event, US recession, and the peak of the ASX stock market in Nov 2007. At the time the voices of greed were still talking up the boom. We used our new proprietary technique of nascent trend analysis to do so. And, good judgment. 2thinknow is a global innovation agency specialising in sharing good original ideas, and profiting from innovation & global trends. To read more about 2thinknow go to www.2thinknow.com

2thinknow predicted in 2007 the current economic crisis including the US September shock event, US recession, and the peak of the ASX stock market in Nov 2007. At the time the voices of greed were still talking up the boom. We used our new proprietary technique of nascent trend analysis to do so. And, good judgment. 2thinknow is a global innovation agency specialising in sharing good original ideas, and profiting from innovation & global trends. To read more about 2thinknow go to www.2thinknow.com

Christopher Hire. The Author. Was a Consultant for. 3 banks . 2 investment banks . 1 ratings agency . 3 property developers. 341+ other organizations . He had worked on data in risk models, financial & analysis systems . Among other things . The author left data consulting . In April 2007 . He did this at great cost . Because the system is short-sighted . And unethical . Business can be more than that . So he set-up 2thinknow . And he is author of the Global Innovation Review . He applied his skills to things he believed in . Business models & analysis . To improve places where we live, work & play . Innovation Cities . Trends. Creative Companies . He is now happier & poorer . And lives in Melbourne, Australia . He wears a suit some days but enjoys not working for tossers.

The Author. Was a Consultant for. 3 banks . 2 investment banks . 1 ratings agency . 3 property developers. 341+ other organizations . He had worked on data in risk models, financial & analysis systems . Among other things . The author left data consulting . In April 2007 . He did this at great cost . Because the system is short-sighted . And unethical . Business can be more than that . So he set-up 2thinknow . And he is author of the Global Innovation Review . He applied his skills to things he believed in . Business models & analysis . To improve places where we live, work & play . Innovation Cities . Trends. Creative Companies . He is now happier & poorer . And lives in Melbourne, Australia . He wears a suit some days but enjoys not working for tossers.