Friday, December 12, 2008

The US economy in a nutshell

"Wages are sticky downward": American car workers are still trying to fight gravity, i.e. globalization's effect on wage rates. Denninger think that if it's anything more than a bargaining ploy, it will finish most of the US car industry.

And after them? Who else could have their work outsourced? White-collar workers should not look on unconcerned. Save money while you can, while wages are still ahead of minimum spending requirements.

Meanwhile, up in the clouds, a hedge fund manager has (allegedly) admitted his business was a fraud, losing $50 billion; more than three times the car-makers' bailout fund currently under discussion.

6 comments:

Nick Drew said...

Blimey, these news items are coming in thick and fast ! When the waters recede, you find out where the wrecks are

Who else could have their work outsourced?

Who couldn't ? when you boil it down, in principle the answer is just about 'the utilities' (I hate to say it, Sackers, but even education, up to a point ...) Also, as noted before, shipping rates for dry bulk cargos have fallen to almost nothing, so importing stuff is a cinch

we had all better learn how to add some serious value (or devise one of Mr Madoff's schemes ... that name - it must be satire, mustn't it ? please ?)

James Higham said...

February will see the artificial jobs disappear and then the picture will be clearer.

Anonymous said...

The £ has depreciated by 30%. Problem solved. Britain is the new low wage economy.

Sackerson said...

Nick - can't wait for ed to be outsourced, may try to come up with something myself.

James - what's a real job?

Anon - good point. But when the dollar collapses? We're into Relativity Theory as applied to currencies.

Paddington said...

I worked with the distance learning believers. Actual education doesn't come without a teacher in the room.

And, if the idiots try (as they have tried to reduce faculty at the universities), exactly where will any research take place?

Nick Drew said...

I am broadly with you, Paddington, but it may not stop them trying