Divorces
Winnings
Nicholas D. Kristof wrote in today’s Times:
"Robert H. Frank of Cornell University, Adam Seth Levine of Vanderbilt University, and Oege Dijk of the European University Institute recently wrote a fascinating paper suggesting that inequality leads to more financial distress. They looked at census data for the 50 states and the 100 most populous counties in America, and found that places where inequality increased the most also endured the greatest surges in bankruptcies.
Here’s their explanation: When inequality rises, the richest rake in their winnings and buy even bigger mansions and fancier cars. Those a notch below then try to catch up, and end up depleting their savings or taking on more debt, making a financial crisis more likely.
Another consequence the scholars found: Rising inequality also led to more divorces, presumably a byproduct of the strains of financial distress. Maybe I’m overly sentimental or romantic, but that pierces me. It’s a reminder that inequality isn’t just an economic issue but also a question of human dignity and happiness."
Keeping up with the Smith's is the source of economic growth, unhappiness and bankruptcies.
As often I sympathize with Mr. Kristof’s opinions.
But I don’t see an alternative to our common belief in economic growth. Our system and our pension funds are built on this dogma.
It's still a personal choice.
Doomed to be suckers
Of course if we don't believe in Santa Claus, he'll just stop sliding down people's chimneys. If we stop believing in the banks and investment funds then they'll be bankrupt by 4 pm in the afternoon. So yes, we may have no choice but to keep believing in them and loaning them our money without asking for collateral.money...
@ Carlos'loaning them our money; - lending
'keeping up with the Smith's'?
The expression used to be 'Keeping up with the Jones's'.
A funny and interesting change of words.
Are the Smiths' no longer fit to be compared with?
Too poor, too far out of any statistics?
Some decades ago, this 'need for economic growth', was derided as complete nonsense already.
We don't need economic growth, we probably need to return to some economy without any banks involved in the process...!
Bert
loan =- lend money at interest (in this case, lend and loan are interchangeable)Of course, we all know that the love of money is the root of all evil. (Although Eve committed the original sin apparently.)
Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
I suspect, however, that those afflicted by the lack of money are pierced by even greater griefs.
The sentence confuses me. I had the impression that dignity was measured by fininancial succes.
Careca
"...you can let someone have one made an old r 'n b singer told us."Made what? You can let someone be happy?
The old R&B singer was Solomon Burke?
Don't quite get your message...
Please be more specific and clearer.
Bert, the answers:
The first one is from google, although not 100 % reliable the question help me have a key made has 585.000.000 answers.The second one: the singer was Tiny Grimes (he is an expert on financial issues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50R9RrowhqA )
So it is Tiny's message, not mine, all credits to him (which you can also see as a financial lesson)
Brands boeken
Alô, Mr Grunberg! Ik heb zojuist zitten genieten van je optreden bij Mr. Brands. Heel fris en fruitig allemaal...en alwéer een hilarisch boek! Het gaat goed met je? De koning is dood, lang leve de koning! Ik benoem je bij deze tot de nieuwe nummer 1 !! van de nog te benoemen grote 3 !!Alle hartelijks van Jakomijn
