From: John Conover <john@email.johncon.com>
Subject: Re: what is the paradox of thrift
Date: 13 Oct 1999 09:13:58 -0000
Markku Stenborg writes:
>
> Often, people think:
> - saving = good, responsible, necessary for accumulation of wealth;
> - spending = naughty, irresponsible.
>
> If an economy has under-utilized resources, ie, high unemployment,
> increased spending and decreased saving will lead to higher income.
> Then, spending = good; saving = bad.
>
> OTOH, in the long run, high saving rate (= low spending rate) is
> needed for high amount of investments which is a prerequisite for
> rapid growth. Then, spending = bad; saving = good.
>
Sounds kind of like a Godelian issue-a paradox of logical recursion,
eg., self-referentiality; if everyone saves, no one should; and, if no
one saves, everyone should.
I don't know if it is true, or not, but if it is, static equilibrium
solutions that are free from contradictions to the thrift/savings
problem do not exist. That would make it tough to make a verifiable
science out of it.
John
--
John Conover, john@email.johncon.com, http://www.johncon.com/