5 ms·
For those with uninterrupted income: I wonder how much the illusion of consumption == happiness has been upended by the shutdown. People make other people happy
by mgamache 6y ago
For those with uninterrupted income: I wonder how much the illusion of consumption == happiness has been upended by the shutdown. People make other people happy not stuff, and depriving a lot of people from contact with other humans may (for a while) refocus our attention on that. Being able to be with other humans is the new luxury.
For unemployed: They may be too sacred to start buying stuff if they do have income (or govt checks) in case of a second wave (or relapse of the first).
Also, there's also a whole group who realizes the economy is in free fall and are holding their collective breath. As my father would always say, the fall doesn't kill you, it's just the sudden stop at the bottom.
- Fjolsvith 6y agoI own a shed manufacturing company in the midwest. Our orders are up 200% since the start of the lockdown. If the economy is in free fall, we don't see it.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- rowawey 6y agoAnecdotal. Demand on particular goods and services has shifted, but is overall net down. And whenever there is a threat of recession, large corporations scale back investment, jobs, purchases, and manufacturing.
- Fjolsvith 6y agoNot to mention that the booming housing market is making it difficult to get lumber, plywood and siding for my business.
- mft_ 6y agoMy hypothesis is that due to being isolated at home for so long, ‘home hobby’-type purchases (eg DIY supplies, art supplies, home exercise, gardening, etc.) will be significantly increased. This would correlate with your experience.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- closeparen 6y agoThe hardest-hit business sectors were venues to be with other people. Since we can't do that in public anymore, we're probably going to buy stuff to facilitate it in private. Urban apartments are not just places to sleep anymore; the city is no longer your living room.