perceptions,  it is a bit negative and neurotic to worry about economic collapse.
i have been hearing about peak oil,  real estate collapses, rising sea levels, GM food catastrophes, nuclear war  for the last 30 years.

being negative and neurotic is the consolation prize for the beta male.

it gives his ego an excuse to not bother trying to be strong, dynamic, powerful and influential.

You know what i honestly think the next 10 years are going to be like.

About

the same

as

the

Last 10 years.

Anyone born in australia has a marvellous opportunity.
An incredible advantage.
Dont curse the country, dont curse the government, dont curse business, dont curse the system, dont curse the soil, dont curse the weather......these are ALL you've got.

Dont curse all you've got!!!!

The miracle of prosperity has been set up for you.

All you have to do is plant the seed .
Dont ask for thing to change, they wont. it will all change for each individual when he/she changes.
Dont ask for less problems/ask for more skills.
Dont ask that it was easier/ask that you were better !!!

John Smith wrote on Apr 14^th, 2016 at 2:28pm:

Simultaneous Elderly Overpopulation, Youth Depopulation And The Impact On Economic Growth

Strangely, the world is suffering from two seemingly opposite actions... overpopulation and depopulation in concert. The overpopulation is due to the increased longevity of elderly lifespans versus depopulation of young populations due to collapsing birthrates.

So, the old are living decades longer than a generation ago, but their adult children are having far fewer children. The economics of this is a complete game changer and is unlike any time previously in the history of mankind.

In a short, yet economically valid manner, every person is a unit of consumption. The greater the number of people and the greater the purchasing power, the greater the growth in consumption.

The chart below is total annual population growth broken down by OECD nations
https://staticseekingalpha.a.ssl.fastly.net/uploads/2016/4/25/saupload_1_thumb1....

The chart below shows global annual population growth by GDP per capita.
https://staticseekingalpha.a.ssl.fastly.net/uploads/2016/4/25/saupload_3_thumb1....

Below, 0-64 year/old annual global population growth versus 0-64 year/old population growth among combined OECD, China, Brazil, and Russia versus global debt growth.
https://staticseekingalpha.a.ssl.fastly.net/uploads/2016/4/25/saupload_5_thumb1....

A look at annual global populations, young versus old (below). The 0-5 year/old population has stalled, but nowhere near so for the 75+ year/old population.
https://staticseekingalpha.a.ssl.fastly.net/uploads/2016/4/25/saupload_6_thumb1....

Conclusion
An economic and financial system premised on perpetual growth was bound to run into trouble (what do you do when you have taken a wrong turn? Apparently, just keep going!). The inevitable deceleration of population growth was the trigger that turned central bankers into pushers offering ever cheaper credit to drive rates of consumption higher, instead of more consumers maintaining consumption. What happens as population growth turns to population decline is honestly and literally a complete and total game changer. Currencies (what will constitute "money"), "free-markets", and perhaps the basis of civilization hang in the balance of the transition from high population growth to potential outright depopulation.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3967636-simultaneous-elderly-overpopulation-yout...
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Agreed, there are certainly issues, relating to Demographics, which are influencing Local & Global Economics!
This has been set up & actually set in concrete, for decades and the early onset can be seen in Japan.
Japan's Population Problem
Low fertility rates and longer life spans are leading to an older and smaller population.
Japan's population is aging and declining. Two main forces are responsible: declining fertility rates and lengthening life spans.
A Low fertility rate and an aging population, imply that the ratio of workers to non-workers will fall.
The consequences are enormous.

These are but some of what we are already experiencing & what await the world, over the next 20-30 years.
The basics being -
1) Demographics, which have been the backstop of Economic Growth, during the modern era and Demographic trends are usually reflected in the Economy some 50 years later.
So, 2006 reflected the Baby Boomer Peak of 1956 & 2014 is now reflecting the end of the Baby Boomer era in 1964, which means Demand will Decline further, as all Boomers now enter their "spendthrift" Retirement years & fewer replacements are following them, as Fertility rates continue to fall in most countries.
2) Peak Energy has arrived, with all Energy commodities having risen thru the roof initially, as Supply was threatened, but Energy Pricing has since gone into serious Decline, caused by Declining Demand, driven largely by Demographics.
The Energy Supply & Demand mix, will continue to ebb & flow!
3) Global Debt is already at historic highs and moves must be made to start the long haul back! This will also add to Demand Decline, not increase Demand!
4) Climate Change, irrespective of whether it is natural or man made, is causing many problems. It is driving up costs, it is set to deliver a Decline in Agricultural Production & in many areas a lack of rainfall will put restrictions on Population increases.
All of which will put a further Decline into Demand!

So, whilst Politicians, Central Bankers & TPTB won't admit it or even talk about it, the Real Global basics will make the Growth "aim" impossible! Our "friendly Pollies", from all Political Party's, say they will "aim" for higher Growth.
But the Reality is, based on Real Facts, they have as much chance of success in achieving their higher Growth "aim", as does a Pig in trying to Fly.
Sorry, to be so blunt, But facts are facts and nothing any Polly will say, is going to make these facts go away!

Thus Taxes must increase, Tax loopholes must be closed & Expenditures must Decrease, in order to start down the path of trying our best to make our future, just a little better than it currently looks.

In order to achieve this aim, ALL SECTIONS OF SOCIETY, INCLUDING BUSINESS, UNIONS & THE TOP 10%, MUST MAKE CHANGES!

Budget 2016: Credit Suisse says super changes leave ASX 'worse off'

A tightening in superannuation contributions, as revealed by the Federal Budget on Tuesday, will leave the equity market worse off, says Credit Suisse.
The government plans to tighten up on superannuation tax concessions from next year, reducing the income threshold from $300,000 to $250,000 and capping contributions at $25,000.

"Chances are that a lot of those high income earners who were putting millions into their super are still going to end up putting a lot of their savings into equities because few asset classes offer better returns," said Angus Nicholson, analyst at IG Markets.

That said, the interest rate cut combined with Chinese stimulus and easier global credit market conditions, still leaves Aussie equities as an attractive proposition and Credit Suisse expects the ASX to hit 6000 points by December.

Will we keep the AAA rating?
The release of the budget has eased speculation regarding the sustainability of the country's AAA rating, though ratings agencies have been cautious in their responses. 

http://www.smh.com.au/business/federal-budget/budget-2016-credit-suisse-says-sup...
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Well FRANKLY, there's a lot more going on, Than the Australian Budget!!!
In any event, given the Global status, it is much more likely that the ALL ORDS will hit lower than 4,000, rather than hitting higher than 6,000!!!
Also, whilst the OZ Debt to GDP is set to go higher, it is still a lot better off than most other countries. The OZ ratio is now closing in on 35%, whilst most other major countries already being in the 90-100% plus range.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/country-list/government-debt-to-gdp
HOWEVER, the USA, which is over 100% Debt to GDP, still has a AA+ rating, the UK still has a AAA rating whilst it enjoys a Debt to GDP of of some 90% & other major players get equally "favored treatment"!
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/rating

So, I would suggest there is a "great deal" going on, about which we are NOT AWARE!!!

In any event, Malcolm is going to the polls, because the longer this election is delayed, the more likely it is that the Global & Local Economy will head South & in a big way & therefore it will adversely affect whomever is in power.

If we come back to the main Economic question of which party can better run the OZ Economy, at this point in time -
THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER IS NEITHER LIBERAL, NOR LABOR, AS WHAT IS HAPPENING IS NOW WELL BEYOND THEIR CONTROL!!!

We should also ask, when were they (any of them)  -
ever interested in what is really in the Best, Long Term interests of All Australians??? 
I suspect it is now many decades, at least!
   

'Slow Growth Forever' Keeps Dropping Hints

If you've been reading me the past couple years, you know I believe that the slow growth in the global economy is essentially a permanent circumstance. The short thesis is that aging demographics and massive accumulated global debt simply cannot be overcome with easy money. The best we can hope for is slow growth, a smoothing of market forces and a preservation of standard of living. The worst we can expect is the type of depression, social unrest and war that many doom and gloom sellers rant on about.

Today's U.S. employment numbers demonstrate that growth, even on island America, is not likely to accelerate anytime soon past the 1-2% we've been seeing lately.

U.S. employment numbers were not the only thing to look sluggish this week. Nations around the world reported slower growth than wished for.

I'm not going to go on and on about the problems around the world, but I encourage you to Google "slow growth economy" and click the news tab. You'll see dozens of headlines including one from the IMF which outlines well what is going on around the globe.

We clearly have to worry about China's slowing growth and the very real possibility of more disruptions in Europe this summer. It is not far fetched that we see both Brexit and Brexit this year. If either happen, expect major market dislocations.

Someday Japan is going to fall out of bed and emerging markets are struggling with aging demographics already. Many of the nations that once relied on oil exports are also in trouble.

Right now, the markets are operating within a narrow range again. That means we will likely soon see a breakout or a breakdown.

Given the market structure of boomers withdrawing money reducing the demand for stocks and buybacks being the only real source of new demand for stocks, it is becoming increasingly likely we see a correction.
The possibility of another flash crash is very real as once traders sell and shorts pile on, there is nothing to catch the market for hundreds of points to the downside on the S&P 500.

I am remaining cautious and have a small short as a hedge. I know what I want to own coming out of a correction, i.e. our "Very Short List" and ETF list available to subscribers.

I am waiting patiently for an S&P 500 in the 1600s, I think it is extremely likely to happen this year.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/3972542-slow-growth-forever-keeps-dropping-hints...
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