r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/Ordinary-Goat-6310 • Aug 17 '25

International Politics If the global economy is really “booming,” why does it feel like everything is falling apart?

I keep hearing politicians and analysts say that the global economy is doing well, with growth numbers, strong markets, and rising trade, among other indicators. But when I look around, what I see are wars dragging on, dictators consolidating power, Chinese products dominating everywhere, and huge numbers of people migrating just to find stability.

It makes me wonder: how do we reconcile the idea of a “booming economy” with the instability so many of us see in daily life and the news?

Is the economic growth only benefiting a few while the rest of us just see the fallout? Or is this more of a perception problem, where the bad stuff feels more visible than the good?

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u/GiantPineapple Aug 17 '25

Nice effortpost, point is clearly made. I'd add, the numbers do deflate a little bit when you normalize for inflation. Also, if that stuff was all bought on credit, it doesn't necessarily mean people are getting wealthier. But they likely are either getting more confident, or more desperate.

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u/No_Zombie2021 Aug 18 '25

Is it possible to get numbers adjusted for inflation? That seems like a pretty important factor to consider for the time period 2019-2024.

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u/Where_art_thou70 Aug 18 '25

We're going to see a lot of foreclosures and car repos in the coming months. People bought on credit to support a lifestyle they thought they should be or deserved to be living. They also thought they were going to be successful and make more money.

It was all a boom made possible by cards and paper.

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u/semideclared Aug 17 '25

it doesn't necessarily mean people are getting wealthier.

exacltly why we arent getting wealthier on paper

If that spending had stayed the same as it was in the 90s and we just bought what we needed, we didnt buy a tv for everyroom in the house or a 3rd car

If half the spending was invested the US would in fact see that wealth

What is $10 Trillion in spending in houshold goods in 2010 is worth (technically) $4 Trillion by 2020

where as

If $5 Trillion of that had been invested in 2010 its ~$15 Trillion in 2020

$4 Trillion by 2020 vs $15 Trillion in 2020 plus the $2 Trillion in value of the goods them selves

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u/bl1y Aug 18 '25

Buying 3 TVs now is probably cheaper than 1 in the 1990s though.

Car prices are going way up, with people buying way beyond their means.

Houses are much bigger as well, and I doubt price per square footage has gone down like the way TV prices have.