r/PeterExplainsTheJoke 9h ago

Meme needing explanation Petah?

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u/StuartMcNight 9h ago

Low inflation might be the first step towards deflation. Many economists would argue that deflation is a worse situation for the economy because it leads to a sharp drop of consumption and therefore a huge recession follows?

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u/EM3YT 8h ago

Deflation is “bad” because it leads to an economic death spiral, and there’s no way to stop it.

  1. Prices go down
  2. People see prices going down and hold on to money thinking it’ll be cheaper if they wait.
  3. Less purchasing despite lower prices cuts profit margins, so producers produce less.
  4. Sellers lower prices more in a desperate attempt to make SOME money.
    Repeat.

This usually leads to layoffs to try to salvage money, big sales to get rid of inventory, then eventually there’s nothing to buy, no one making it, and everyone loses their job.

Interest rates don’t fix it, taxes don’t fix it, you just cross your fingers and hold onto your butts

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u/Cultural-Capital-942 7h ago

For how long can you not eat, be homeless or use Nokia 3310 before you stop waiting for lower prices?

Vast majority of my actual spending is not an investment but something I want or need.

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u/TheComplimentarian 1h ago

Certain things are said to have “inelastic demand.” You’re buying those things regardless of the price.

Generally that stuff is static, so when the economy is growing (inflation) or shrinking (deflation) those purchases are not what’s changing.