Post B3RlG7BrhAtjVtSDQG by SteveRoth@mastodon.world
 (DIR) More posts by SteveRoth@mastodon.world
 (DIR) Post #B3OAnbjEtckO0KIAoC by interfluidity@zirk.us
       2026-02-16T19:43:24Z
       
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       The main good that determines whether you think the economy is good or bad is slack. How much headroom is there between what you are going to buy and what you can afford to spend? 1/
       
 (DIR) Post #B3OApcE21L3a7jeW1I by interfluidity@zirk.us
       2026-02-16T19:43:46Z
       
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       You can lose slack because your real purchasing power declines, or because your needs expand. “Needs” are largely a function of structural facts and social norms. 2/
       
 (DIR) Post #B3OArrEBDGlbERn636 by interfluidity@zirk.us
       2026-02-16T19:44:11Z
       
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       If you model spending only as discretionary choice, treat anything beyond the most basic food and shelter as expendable, as gravy, something optional or superfluous, you will never make sense of what human beings actually experience, and the ructions of behavior that result. /fin
       
 (DIR) Post #B3RlG7BrhAtjVtSDQG by SteveRoth@mastodon.world
       2026-02-18T13:16:01Z
       
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       @interfluidity Right. Could also describe it as freedom to save (or not). But need to consider capital gains accrued and accumulated over years/decades as saving to think in terms of lifetime income/saving and spending. (Also considering difficulty/cost of spending from home equity and 401s/IRAs.)
       
 (DIR) Post #B4EW0aXynmqtMSyNFY by sehr_normal@mastodon.social
       2026-03-14T01:46:01Z
       
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       @interfluidity The only thing determining slack is some rich <humans>, and i am being very normal here.  There is no "economy", it's all humans making decisions.