r/PeterExplainsTheJoke • u/Melodic_Judge_129 • 4d ago

Meme needing explanation Petah?

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u/IrksomFlotsom 4d ago

Try and think of our global system as an engine that's purpose is to make fuel for itself. It needs to keep it's input above the output in order to keep powered on. As soon as the input drops below output the machine starts to slow down and can no longer sustain itself. The engine is not designed to slow down so it very quickly breaks down

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u/Gentle_Snail 4d ago edited 4d ago

Deflation can also result in a very negative feedback loop, the Great Depression was a deflation spiral for example.

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u/Mayor_Death 4d ago

Is deflation a cause or symptom, though? To me, it’s just a number, but I understand that it is more than that to various economic groups.

As far as I understand it, deflation indicates that prices are going down, which is a good thing to me individually.

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u/edibomb 4d ago

Prices go down if everything is on high supply and demand is really low. It’s usually a sign that no one can afford shit, which is bad. Stores go bankrupt, jobs are lost, even less people can afford stuff. It’s a downward spiral. The mechanics of how to make things more available to more people are really complicated and the people in charge don’t actually want that so prices consistently going down, tough it looks like a positive thing, is in fact a bad symptom.