We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
Debate House Prices
In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non MoneySaving matters are no longer permitted. This includes wider debates about general house prices, the economy and politics. As a result, we have taken the decision to keep this board permanently closed, but it remains viewable for users who may find some useful information in it. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Economics of Ebola
Comments
-
I wonder at what point they close down air links from Africa?I think....0
-
Bean_Counter wrote: »My work colleague was at Lagos airport at the same time and is due back tomorrow. Should I shake his hand when I see him? .
It's an interesting thought actually...“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
-- President John F. Kennedy”0 -
I wonder at what point they close down air links from Africa?
I wonder why they haven't already.
But that all goes back to the last few points in the OP....So I suppose the question is, how do governments minimise the societal disruption and economic impacts of the measures that might be required to combat a global pandemic threat such as ebola?
Is it better to take the 'short sharp shock' approach and effectively shut down the planet for 45 - 90 days? This would presumably minimise the death toll from the disease, but maximise economic and societal harm, and also maximise the death toll from civil disturbances and starvation/resource depletion.
Or is it better to fight a longer but less aggressive campaign with public health measures and information campaigns, as is being done at the moment? Which appears to be letting the disease continue to spread, but has not (yet) caused catastrophic economic damage and societal disruption to the affected nations?“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
-- President John F. Kennedy”0 -
On a positive note, if half the population is wiped out it may reduce house prices a bit.
It was the plague, and shortage of agricultural workers, that turned round the country when the workers finally had "the edge" over the toffs and were able to be paid decent wages etc. A defining, turnaround point for "the little man".
There'd certainly be no shortage of houses, that's true.0 -
If I stock up on beans and tinned pineapple, I can self-quarantine myself away from the infected masses. Maybe I should learn to fish too.0
-
Bean_Counter wrote: »My work colleague was at Lagos airport at the same time and is due back tomorrow. Should I shake his hand when I see him? If no further posts are made, you know why.
I'd be on ebay buying a handbell to take to work....0 -
On a serious note, I assume LHR immigration is doing nothing to prevent the virus being carried to London, either by accident or design0
-
I_have_spoken wrote: »On a serious note, I assume LHR immigration is doing nothing to prevent the virus being carried to London, either by accident or design
Not sure there's much they can do.
It's a long incubation period (2-3 weeks) with no symptoms until very late in the disease progression.“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
-- President John F. Kennedy”0 -
You'd have to stop all air travel and force people to travel by sea, by a route that has them out at sea for 3 weeks..... then tested before docking. If the ship's found to be contaminated, just don't let it dock.0
-
PasturesNew wrote: »You'd have to stop all air travel and force people to travel by sea, by a route that has them out at sea for 3 weeks..... then tested before docking. If the ship's found to be contaminated, just don't let it dock.
And in an effort to get this thread back on topic, that would probably work, but what sort of economic price would the country pay if measures like that were implemented?“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived, and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.
Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
-- President John F. Kennedy”0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.3K Spending & Discounts
- 245.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.5K Life & Family
- 259K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards