|
|
The Atlantic Monthly
Jan-Feb, 2004. Pages 110-112.
“But as important as the economy is in determining the state
of the union, it is also a problematic measure, because the ‘real’
state of the economy does not match our collective perception of it.”
That is although one could in theory deduce America's exact sense of its economic
well-being at any given moment by extrapolating from each citizens income and
expenses, a kind of aggregate national answer to the question..., that would
provide only an indirect and backward-looking measure of the economy’s
real strength.
Page 110
The true condition of the economy is best seen not as a snapshot of individual’s
circumstances but as the movement of deeper forces through time; economists
look back for measures of what has already happened and then use various logical
assumptions to project what will happen in the future.”
Page 111
“In fact, there is a wide gap between how most people feel the economy
in general is faring (poorly) and how they feel they themselves are doing (quite
well)."
page 112
A poll conducted by the Gallup Organization in August
| per cent | question or response to: | evidence |
|
75
|
rated the financial well-being of average citizens | as fair or poor |
|
89
|
employment situation rated | as poor or only fair |
|
50
|
employment situation rated | as poor |
|
19
|
of those then working were fearful of being out of a job | laid off |
|
100
|
Another recent poll, by the Pew Research Center
| per cent | question or response to: | response |
|
35
|
“I am pretty well satisfied with the way things are going for me financially” | disagreed with |
| meaning | The percentage since 1987 has only been lower three times in twelve. |
Page 112
The problem of worldview is
an analytical construct that deals with a difference between the real
and the perceived to be, by encompassing beliefs and observations.
