Friday, January 30, 2009

2009 panic and the future

From Seed, Bruce Sterling on Panic and 2009.  http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2009/01/2009_will_be_a_year_of_panic.php

Seems to me that however we come out of this, things will be different for a time - new, lower benchmarks for consumer spending levels will be adopted, and some familiar brands never returning are just two examples.  For a time we will close the gap with the rest of the world in standard of living by stepping back towards the mean.  New models for heath care, particulary for long term care for the elderly will have to be identified because the current models are not sustainable.   However over time human nature being what it is new economic growth patters will emerge and the lessons of thie period will fade.