MBS Blog

Whom do you think is more accurate in predicting the future: economists OR astrologists? If I were a betting man, I would go with the astrologists. OK…I know that sounds a bit crazy, but answer this question: have economists been any better about predicting the future?

At least we can laugh a bit when astrologists put on their pointy hats and pontificate. We assume…perhaps correctly so, that there is no real science behind their rants. Why trust economists? If we measured the predictions of many economists and astrologists, we would probably find them about equal in their forecasting abilities.

 At least the prognostications of astrologists can have a comforting effect, since we can realistically believe that stellar, solar and lunar movements control events to a great extent. Economists tend to fixate on their own version of stars as well as theories based upon arcane data that only they know how to decipher.

Shakespeare did point us in the right direction: the fault is not in the stars, but in our selves.

from www.unian.net

Crisis in Ukraine may last for five years – astrologists

Astrologist Olena Kalantarova forecasts that Ukraine will see a year of ordeal, and the crisis in the country will last for not less than five years.

O.Kalantarova disclosed her forecast to “Segodnya” daily (#26 dated February 10, 2009).

“The situation will stabilize more or less late in March-early in April. And May will bring a financial vortex. A critical situation will loom in October, when we may be drawn into an international conflict. A scandal, connected with the President of Ukraine, will happen in this period. Many riots will take place in 2009”, the astrologist unveiled.

Another astrologist, Ihor Syvak, also forecasts a peak of social protests in September and October.

According to Ihor Nikishyn, head of the Ukrainian Astrologic Institute, February and March will be the most critical period for the national currency – hryvnia. “Hryvnia’s value will begin to stabilize in April, but it will again fluctuate in August and early in October”, I.Nikishyn forecasted.

In his opinion, the national currency may finally stabilize by end of year.

“Since end of April, we may also expect for a growth of demand for steel, on which our economics depends. But the growth will take place very slowly”, the astrologist forecasted.

Economics has often been called the “dismal science.”  Having known many economists in my past life working as a wage slave in the corporate world, I can say that it was not the “science” that was necessarily dismal, but the practitioners. This is especially true these days. The same economists that were saying “the fundamentals” of the Global Economy were sound 6 months ago, are now in the doom and gloom mode. In  other words, it is not going to just rain…but rain for 40 days and 40 nights!! 

A person of means and resources might want to start building an ark…or maybe just buy gold bullion and store it in a bank vault in Switzerland…but the rest of us will have to learn to swim in some very deep water (or in sewage) if the deluge comes.

The Nostradamuses of our age…Gerald Celente for example, is predicting Depression II, another American Revolution with widespread tax riots in the United States by 2012. Certainly, it is a possibilty given the recent riots in Iceland. However, those of us with a eye for opportunities (entrepreneurs, shameless exploiters and capitalists) know that would be an excellent time to own a factory making Ronald Reagan AND Che Guevara t-shirts. 

….and what is the current forecast? Well…it depends on whom you ask. Most of the data out there suggests that the economies of the developed world will not be growing at all…but NOT the emerging market economies. According to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Russia is projected to grow at over 3% versus the 7.3% it had been prior to the Global Meltdown (and declining oil prices).  Indeed, most of Eastern and Central Europe will see positive net growth. Whatever the forecast, there will be a lot of pain…but also a lot of long term opportunities.

Bring an umbrella. However, make sure to turn it upside down on occasion as it could be raining “pennies from heaven”

Anton Olff

Technorati Tags: Central Europe, Che Guevara, Depression, Eastern Europe, EBRD, Economics, European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, forecast, Gerald Celente, Global Economy, gold, Iceland, Ronald Reagan, Russia, Switzerland, United States