is all this because the West in decline?

[HairyArsedBloke]

Apparently we have a world-class defence industry. Can't we covertly start some wars and kick off a new boom?

You could be on to something there. Who are our two main competitors for trade? Can we get them to fight each other and sell arms to both sides?

Somehow, I think this has been done before many times.

[DiscoStu]

Apparently we have a world-class defence industry. Can't we covertly start some wars and kick off a new boom?

[BlackenedBiker]

Taking the UK as an example of the West, in which way are we growing?
I mean long-term as opposed to this recession.

In terms of GDP as measured by the IMF.

There is a really good historical table in this article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy...United_Kingdom

[sasguru]

I don't think that, when considering the bigger picture, the West is declining. .

Taking the UK as an example of the West, in which way are we growing?
I mean long-term as opposed to this recession.

[Platypus]

I think our species/planet has some challenging times to come, before we finally achieve equilibrium.

extinction

[BlackenedBiker]

do you think all these economic problems are due to the decline of the west and the emergence of China, India etc?

I mean come on, who would pay us to do anything that other emerging nations cannot do just as well, or almost as well, for cheaper.

this daily commentary on markets may miss this big picture, that the West cannot justify the huge salaries etc. anymore for what we actually do

I don't think that, when considering the bigger picture, the West is declining. I do think that a number of big powers are emerging: Brazil, India, China.

The world is simply in recession right now. Good times will return.

I would warn thought that niche skills are the key to a good career in IT. If you want to be a bog standard (no disrespect meant) programmer, then you are facing alot of competition.

Finally I think that we are at the begining of the end for capatalism. It is a model that seems to be predicated on continual expansion and growth. Obviously our planet can't sustain this.

I think our species/planet has some challenging times to come, before we finally achieve equilibrium.

[sasguru]

do you think all these economic problems are due to the decline of the west and the emergence of China, India etc?

I mean come on, who would pay us to do anything that other emerging nations cannot do just as well, or almost as well, for cheaper.

this daily commentary on markets may miss this big picture, that the West cannot justify the huge salaries etc. anymore for what we actually do

No tulip, Sherlock!

[GreenerGrass]

Yes. The most todays British graduates can hope for is a senior management position in McDonalds, KFC, Asda, Tesco etc.

This chap has been preaching on this for a while:
http://cynicuseconomicus.blogspot.com/

You will still see the odd bit of propaganda on the BBC critical of the Chinese regime or riots with muslims etc and other problems they suffer (trying to make it sound crap compared to here) but they will all seem trivial compared with the eventual destruction of our own pseudo-democratic society.

Our only hope is innovation. They can copy and manufacture stuff cheaply, but not innovate as well. Look at that MGF they are still trying to flog us.

[contractor79]

do you think all these economic problems are due to the decline of the west and the emergence of China, India etc?

I mean come on, who would pay us to do anything that other emerging nations cannot do just as well, or almost as well, for cheaper.

this daily commentary on markets may miss this big picture, that the West cannot justify the huge salaries etc. anymore for what we actually do