Biggest Slowdown Since 1929
December 31, 2008
Partially because of the rapid growth in telecommunications and Information Technology we have seen growth parameters including the GDP rising continuously during the 1990’s any beyond. While economic indicators are naturally cyclical, the recent sharp declines on the global scale have far exceeded the expectations of economic experts analysts. In Asia as well as Europe and the USA these declines have been the steepest since 1929.
The criticality of the current world financial situation has indicated a strong need to strengthen and perhaps reinvent our existing economic and financial models and practices. The financial rescue, or bailout if you prefer, packages put in place just recently initially did little to stop the plunge in stock indexes. Admittedly it will take some time to tell if these financial aids will have the desired effect of turning the USA and global economies around.
For instance the experts comments over the fall of one of the largest banks in US the Lehman Brothers is said to be a calculated and well predicted with time. The policies, strategy, pay role to the employees, exposure to in-calculated field, mortgages over last decade clearly indicates a poor management and policies adopted by the company. If these were so much visible to the experts then why action were not take with time? similar kind of stories lies beneath the fall of other biggies too. These have made many investors, employees and IT companies to shut down the shop or making them bankrupt.
The question has to be asked as to what if anything financial institutions have learned from this experience. Will they accept the bailout packages and continue with business as usual or will they use this financial assistance to buy time enough to redefine and retool their business models? This would seem imperative if we are to experience solid and sustainable economic growth once again.
Major economic powers such as the USA and China have cooperated in trying to bolster their respective economies. It is apparent however that even if some successes are achieved,the real solution lies in cooperation with Europe and the other Asian economies if a true global recovery is to be achieved.
Financial rescue packages will not necessarily help the investor in the short term except perhaps to put a brake on the losses. Assuming it will take some time for financlial institutions and other affected organizations to get their houses in order, the investor must review his or her own investment strategies in hopes of regaining a pattern of sustainable growth.
So it is really up to the political leaders of the affected countries to step up and cooperate in finding the means not only to reverse the current situation but to prevent a reoccurrence as well. Until that happens the small investor, and perhaps the large investor as well, needs to be very cautions as to where they are putting their money.
A common man when reads an article on crisis in share indexes doesn’t understand or even bothers to think how this effects his life. However the same person when unfortunately gets laid off from his organization accounting slow down as reason blames his luck. Awareness among common people about ups and downs of stock graph would help them to improve their life style.


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