Somewhere in the area of 75 AD the silver content of the Roman Denarius was about 100%. It was solid silver. Somewhere before 300 AD that content had fallen to around 10% or less. The value of the currency fell and the empire’s debt rose as Rome fell apart. I thought that was an interesting fact, so I decided to tie it in to my suggestion to you that you find and read More…
Posts Tagged ‘Recession’
Jeff’s First Book Report (at least since the 10th grade)
Wednesday, July 14th, 2010The New Management Environment- A Few Ideas
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009In 1995 I wrote a Market Watch column called “Getting in Deep Trouble.” For those of you who might have accidentally misplaced your copies it talked, as the snowboard industry was starting its (first) consolidation, about what led companies to face survival issues and how they could save themselves. I started with the following: “All businesses in trouble share two characteristics: denial and perseverance in the face of inescapable change. It’s easy More…
A Little Random Perspective on the Financial/Market/Credit crisis
Wednesday, September 24th, 2008Once upon a time, way back in 2003, an investment bank could only have leverage of up to twelve to one. In 2004, the Security and Exchange Commission gave five investment banks, and only five, the ability to leverage up to 30 or 40 times or so. Guess which five they were? I almost don’t want to bother listing them, because the list is so obvious. But for the benefit of all the readers More…
Subprimes, Teen Spending and the Economy; Yup, It’s a U.S. Recession. Can’t Europe Just Ignore It?
Saturday, March 8th, 2008Daniel is my favorite economic indicator. He and his guys install wood floors. To get him to do some work at our house last summer, we had to book him two months in advance. When I called him to do another room not long ago he said, “How about next Tuesday?” He told me people were becoming more cautious and pulling back on projects. With the Daniel Indicator in the caution zone, I decided More…
Consolidation, War, and a Lousy Economy;Skateboarding Will Be Fine, Thank You Very Much
Friday, March 28th, 2003It doesn’t seem fair. Okay, after the 90s, some economic slow down was inevitable and most industries are having to deal with it. Skateboarding, after a few years of simply spectacular growth was due for a consolidation, and we’re getting it in spades. War, of course, isn’t good for already soft consumer spending- too many people staying home to watch the war on TV. And just to make things perfect, the weather hasn’t exactly cooperated. The More…
Stuck In A Rut; Another Recession Article
Tuesday, November 13th, 2001Look, I’m sorry about this. I’d really rather write about upbeat, happy stuff. It’s not my fault we’re in a recession, or are going to be in one, or whatever. I’m not making up these lousy economic statistics we’re seeing, you now. I don’t just sit here and pull them out of my ass, damn it. Sure, sure, everybody just goes, “Why should we read this crap when he’s never got anything good to say!?” More…
Well, I Guess It’s a Recession; Perspective on an Economic Downturn.
Thursday, October 25th, 2001It has been a while—ten years actually—since we endured the lastr ecession back in ’90/91. But business cycles are pretty much immutable. What goes up must come down. “Regression to the mean” they call it in statistics. Two things have me especially concerned about our current situation. First, the economic rubber band is stretched tight after ten years of prosperity and growth. Second, this might be the first global More…
What To Do in a Recession? Hint: “Nothing” is the Wrong Answer
Sunday, October 21st, 2001I’m sure that everybody who was in the snowboard business during the 1990-91 recession liked that one better than we’re going to like this one. Assuming, of course, that you even noticed the one in 1990-91. Ah, those were the good old days- when suppliers and retailers could sell whatever decks they could manage to get their hands on at high prices and good margins and consumers were so grateful to get More…
Potential Impact of War and Recession on the Snow Sports Industry; Relevant Statistics and Possible Strategies
Friday, October 19th, 2001We were looking at a recession before the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the tragedy raised the possibility (certainty in the minds of many) that the recession would be longer, deeper or both then it would otherwise have been. Economic activity has already rebounded since its nadir in the days following the WTC. But what’s a “normal” recovery from such an event? Who knows. The snow More…
