Life and How to Survive It by Robin Skynner & John Cleese

Author:Robin Skynner & John Cleese
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781446490716
Publisher: Cedar Books

Afterthought: Money Makes the World Go Round

John I’ve been speculating that countries seem to go through economic cycles that are very closely related to psychological cycles.

Robin How do you mean?

John I mean if things go well, they get pompous and arrogant and, as we all know, pride comes before a fall. And then after the fall, they get more humble and realistic, and buckle down again, and start improving. Just like people. Except that with nations you can’t say there’s a beginning or an end to the process, because it just repeats, goes round and round like a Ferris wheel.

Robin Describe it.

John Well, let’s take as the starting point the bottom of the cycle. The most obvious example is a disaster like the Germans and Japanese faced when they lost the War. There’s a terrible depression in every sense of the word. Then comes acceptance of the situation. Then a realisation that you have to go back to the drawing board and start building again, because there’s no alternative if you’re to survive at all. So you work hard, and put everything you’ve got into the effort to save the situation. Everything’s in the melting pot, so you’re very open to new ideas. So there’s new thinking everywhere, new ways of organising and doing things, and a lot of new inventions.

Robin Perhaps that’s why most of the inventions which have brought industrial success were made at the bottom of these cycles, during the economic slumps. It’s the same in wartime when a similar sense of desperation has dramatic effects on technology – like the jet engine, rockets, guidance systems, and nuclear power in the last World War, which can then be put to peaceful uses.

John I’d guess a nation that’s just experienced real disaster tends to have few illusions. There’ll be an attitude of humility, a realisation you’ve got to work very hard and use your wits, and a sense of obligation to society, to pull together for the common good. That would be a very favourable situation for economic success, wouldn’t it?

Robin Yes. That would produce a creative atmosphere in which people will let go of old habits and try out anything new, plus real determination, and a willingness to make sacrifices if it will lead to future improvements. So labour costs will be reasonable and productivity will be high – the situation in Japan and Germany after the Second World War.

John So at this point in the cycle success is practically inevitable! The economy slowly begins to pick up. Life is hard, but people begin to see that their efforts are bringing success. Confidence grows, too.

Robin So there’s nothing to stop the upward trend.

John Nothing. So on it goes. In a decade or two, they’ve got half-way to the top of the cycle. The economy is booming, it’s a time of success, the words ‘Economic Miracle’ are heard. I have a feeling that this is the best time of all.

Robin I think that’s probably right. At this mid-point,

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