Global economy is probably in recession

Re:Global economy is probably in recession by chris5745 on Friday August 09, 2019 @12:20PM (#20655745)

The first figure shows the percent change from the previous year, so it’s basically a moving slope of the actual trade volume. If it’s positive, trade is increasing. Compared to the slope in 2009, I wouldn’t call the current decrease a recession (but I’m not an economist). It may be negative but it’s still pretty close to zero.

The author’s thesis is that mistaken protectionist policies that affect trade are not in the interest of business and the economy. I don’t know that we can conclude that, as changes in policy tend to create new opportunities for businesses, both entrenched and new. The same cannot be said for policy that is continuous and non-changing.

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Re:Global economy is probably in recession by me_again on Friday August 09, 2019 @01:45PM (#20656648)

But changing policy at rapidly and at whim makes it difficult for businesses to invest in anything that has a longer payoff. I think on balance business people would prefer to have a fairly stable macroeconomic and regulatory environment. Look at the UK, where uncertainty over Brexit has caused a substantial drop in business investment.

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Re:Global economy is probably in recession by Fjolsvith on Saturday August 10, 2019 @09:42AM (#20661956)

Investors are different than business owners, and have different goals. Business owners tend to find opportunity in change, whereas investors prefer a steady status quo.

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