economics is like porn.
for reality is just a little different than what is predicted; beautiful models with incredible figures for amazing statistics, do exactly what you want, or don’t do what you don’t want. And reality? The models don’t do what you want and when what you expected to happen doesn’t, there is serious headache involved.

economics is like porn.
actually, reality is always more exciting. a dumb and dumber secretary of state in the netherlands once said, to my utter astonishment, that he thought economics had nothing to do with psychology. Undoubtedly, the man thinks the main characters in a pornmovie get married at the end. Because exactly that is what economics and porn have in common: their right to existence is human psychology.

economics is like porn.
they both deal with psychology and for both optimism is essential. you keep trusting, that reality will eventually become what you hope. and where porn is completely ridiculous (which it is usually), without a huge dosage of reality, economics in theory is the exact same airplanecrash on fantasy island. every blind faith in models, which eventually, that is the problem with practical science, are only based on results from the past, doesn’t offer any guarantees for the future. the only thing that counts is faith and optimism. within reason obviously? actually no. not within reason, not within unreason, mostly outside of reason and unreason. as long as you base your faith on your own capabilities and your optimism on your ambitions. just what the doctor ordered. and the psychology of our actions makes that very difficult for most of us. especially when everyone around us, specifically quasi-journalists with too much self-interest and too little journalistic integrity through too many commercial radio and television networks, echo each other, both in times of wealth as well as in times of frugality.

cycles, economic outlook and recession? beautiful words for the inflation and deflation of the balloons at our party. when everyone is excited and is longing for a bite and a drink, all balloons are inflated. happiness all around and everyone can fight the world. the famous morning after, the balloons look a lot more wrinkled and the snacks look a lot less appealing. that is a major cause of the panic in times like these. although we have enjoyed these types of parties a number of times before, most of us are still genuinely surprised about the deflating balloons and the aroma of half empty glasses of stale beer. you would think we would know by now, that we have to get rid of the mess afterwards and that we need to catch our breath from the party? nothing could be farther from the truth. Disappointedly we are cleaning up, throwing away the old drinks. we are literally and figuratively mourning the empty halves of all remaining glasses. after a party and the accompanying, inevitably short night I, on the other hand, am enjoying the remains of a sinful life, perceiving satisfied the full halves of the glasses in the window-sills (not that I drink them…). even the old stench of cigarettes, that normally cannot be smelled in our house, satisfies me. and that is apparently where I am different. most people lack exactly that, the faith in the future (next party) and the ambition to contribute to it! they sit in the corner, disappointedly and contemplate how they spent just a little too much money (were those exotic dancers and that temaki-buffet really necessary?); insecurity about the future and their part in it, that’s what they get.

but the cleanup has to be done with enthusiasm and energy! first of all, it will be done sooner and second, you will know much sooner how many drinks and hors d’oevres are left for a potential afterparty later that week (no temaki’s, but we’ll just use some french cheeses and bread? also nice…). but that is where psychology kicks in again. ‘cause first we make each other feel down-hearted about the fact, that the party will probably be over soon, then that it ís over, consequently about that we have to clean up (damn! no one told me anything about this) and finally, that we don’t even know whether and if so when there will be another party…

let me tell you, there will be another party.

when together we help deflate the balloons and clean up the mess and believe that we can have a party just like it again. because i make the most fabulous apple pies, you always pick out the best wines, she organises the parties always so tremendously and together we know so many amazing people, that make a party a success.

you see, with the psychology of my positive mind is nothing wrong. and i keep hoping for that late-night-movie with the wedding at the end…