Survival Tactics In
A Changing Economy

 

The economy is changing. We are entering an unprecedented period of economic, political, social, and technological change. These changes will directly affect the lives of virtually everyone in the world.

Preparing for this with a proactive plan can mean the difference between survival and chaos in your world. Waiting is not a plan. Acting now is making the choice to survive.

Meet The New Boss - Energy

The ability to produce cost efficient clean energy will determine who is the master and who is the servant in the coming economy. As long as we remain connected to the existing energy grid and dependent on oil-based fuel for transportation our assets will be increasingly depleted by a system which we have no control over. Energy will determine the price of transportation, housing, food, clothing and nearly every facet of the lives of those that choose to remain at it's mercy. All of the basic necessities of life are now securely tied to the consumption of energy.

There are currently alternatives available that can enable individuals to live off the grid. Most of these alternatives will require a substantial change in personal energy use habits. The rising cost and diminishing supply of the current energy delivery systems will soon overcome convenience as the primary factor for determining alternatives. We will explore those alternatives and review new ideas for personal energy production on a regular basis.

Defining Your Environment

Our immediate environment is the home. Unless you have been in hibernation for the last few years you are probably aware that we are experiencing a major shift in the real estate market. The name attached to it has evolved from the sub-prime crisis, to the mortgage crisis, to the the banking crisis. Of course, none of these titles encompass the true nature of what is happening to the lives of millions of Americans facing foreclosure. We are in the middle of a period of economic turmoil that has no easy solution. This is not a business cycle, or a recession, or any short term phenomenon. It is the past due notice for decades of irresponsibility, greed, and apathy.

Land will be the most valuable component of real estate. Not homes. Not commercial space. Not even the over-frequented shopping malls. Land. Why? Primarily because land has a useful purpose beyond a place to squat. If you own land you have room to produce food. There is an area to erect your own energy production system. You may even go so far as to use the natural resources on your land to replace the building materials that are necessary to construct a home. Land will trump every other class of real estate in this environment. Get some.

Income

The traditional concept of "go to school - get a job - have a career" is becoming a thing of the past in many fields. For the vast majority of people that do not have an advanced degree a "job" has become a non-specialized, almost temporary means of paying bills. Most of the job creation in the past 20 years has been attached to the service sector which is typical of this type of employment. With the pressures of global competition, outsourcing, and an increasing number foreign workers these jobs are paying less and less. In addition to substandard pay most jobs are tied to a particular location that requires travel to work. The high cost of travel and the shrinking level of compensation will have begin to have a series of effects.

The most pronounced effect will be less disposable income for those that continue to follow this pattern. Another likely effect will be increased urbanization or a migration from the suburbs back to a city business core. This will temporarily reduce the cost of commuting and the income squeeze for those moving to this business core. In the long run, however, it will result in an expanded local labor pool and an even greater decline in compensation.

The best long term solution to this dilemma is to join the increasing number of people that have found a way to provide goods and services via the internet from their home. The internet has created more millionaires and billionaires in recent years than any other area of the economy. If you can isolate a niche market on the web and cater to that market, chances are that you can make a living doing so. In addition to your own enterprise many large companies are now hiring home workers to provide services such as transcription, data entry, instruction, and customer service via the net. This is another area that we will continue to research and provide alternatives for consideration.

Investing

The true value of an investment may be more than just it's value in dollars. The frame of reference in which an individual operates tends to dictate the quality and value of an investment. While a share of stock in a publicly held corporation with a past track record of growth may hold a value to a stock trader it may not hold the same value to an individual whose primary task is to produce their own energy, food, and maintain a self-constructed home.The general toolset of Pionomics is much different than that of a typical employee/consumer. The value of an investment varies according to the needs of the individual. Land, access to water, or even something as simple as a shovel may be of far greater value to you in this situation.

For those that have assets in excess of their needs to sustain themselves investing will continue to be a part of life. If you are in this situation you may want to review your portfolio in light of global economic pressures that now have a huge effect on the value of what we own. To learn more about these factors see our section on investing. See our investing section about the market that IS making money.

 

Change Is Inevitable

Change is about the only thing that is guaranteed. Even if you stand still and do nothing you will be riding a spinning planet at the rate of twenty-eight thousand miles an hour. Doing nothing on a personal basis to prepare for this economic environment will most likely lead to changes that are not in your best interest.

Pionomics is based on the principles of logic, economics, science, mathematics, and most of all hope. Hope for a better way of life that will enable our readers to cope with the impact of the changing economy in a positive way. No one is better prepared to evaluate your situation better than you, the reader. We are here to provide news, insights, and alternatives to keep you informed and aware of the changing economy.