Global growth data this week has been disappointing for the bulls. Geo-political strife is only weakening prospects all the more. The US 10-year yield has today officially given up the ghost on the 2.40 level it broke above in the ‘tapper tantrum’ of May 2013…2.20 is the next downside test.
Revelation this week that Robin Williams was suffering from early onset Parkinson’s disease and that this may have played a role in his decision to take his own life. For me this adds to an ongoing preoccupation with the complexity of suicide and euthanasia in all of its impacts and interpretations from tragic despair and cry for help to, in some cases, a considered choice for self-determination.
At the same time, this biographical documentary on Stephen Hawking’s remarkable life offers a look at one man’s fight to exist and continue working in the face of unimaginable physical adversity.
Hawking is the extraordinary story of the planet’s most famous living scientist, told for the first time in his own words and by those closest to him. Made with unique access to Hawking’s private life, this is an intimate and moving journey into Stephen’s world, both past and present. An inspirational portrait of an iconic figure, Hawking relates his incredible personal journey from boyhood under-achiever, to PhD genius, to being diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease and given just two years to live. Despite the constant threat of death, Hawking manages to make many remarkable scientific discoveries and rises to fame and super-stardom. Hawking – a remarkable man, and a remarkable movie. Here is a direct video link.
Even without all the debt hangover and excess capacity left from the credit bubble, the global economy was already slowing on demographics. Just another reason why bulls are over-estimating growth trends over the next few years.
‘Super-aged’ societies are coming and they are going to drag down economic growth.
According to research done by analysts at credit ratings agency Moody’s we need to start worrying about aging populations.
They have calculated there is going to be a dramatic increase in the number of “super-aged” countries – that is where more than one in five of the population is 65 or older.
Currently there are just three – Germany, Italy and Japan.
But by 2030 there will 34 such countries, with fewer workers to support the cost of retirees and less investment because saving rates will decline.
Between 2015 and 2030 growth in the number of people of working age is set to be only a little over half the growth seen during the previous 15 years.” Here is a direct link to a video report.
Cory’s Chart Corner
