Looking up

Despite a morbid compulsion to follow the free-flowing bad news on the economic downturn, there are definitely some good ones to cheer things up a bit.  So here is a compiled list of things which do BETTER in times of crisis:

Food and drink which benefit from hard times:

• Chocolate – sugary candybars in particular
• Takeaway and convenience meals
• Pizza delivery
• Pasta, rice and pulses (instead of grills and salads)
• Pasta sauces
• Frozen foods
• Beer
• Tap water

Changes in Health patterns:

• “People are physically healthier in times of recession,” according to Christopher Ruhm at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. “Death rates fall, people smoke less, drink less and exercise more”.  People have more time to prepare healthier meals at home.
• Heart attacks go down. Back problems go down.
• Sales of laxatives go up – constipation problems increase in stressful conditions.

Going up in business and education

• Online shopping (global bargain hunters)
• Cost-councious food retail
• White label anything
• Repair services (clothing, computers, etc)
• Specialization courses and higher education, free, subsidised or low cost

Changes in behaviour and personal preferences

• Marriage – The number of divorces go down – People need to work their issues out as they can’t afford expensive lawyers or to live in separate homes.
• More creative activity – More people have the time, and there is a tendency to do more meaninful things…
• Music preferences: People tend to switch to “longer, slower and more meaningful themes” during downturn periods according to a study by Terry F. Pettijohn II, a professor of psychology at Coastal Carolina University, who analysed Billboard No. 1 songs from 1955 to 2003.
• Bunnies:  Playboy’s Playmates tended to be more mature looking, heavier and taller at hard times compared to the good times, according to the same study – also showing that people look for reassurance.

Good news for the environment:

• Less driving, less traffic (less CO2 emissions)
• Tap water instead of bottled (less plastic waste)
• Less waste in general: energy, food, packaging…

A couple of the articles that inspired this post:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/weekinreview/19lewin.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/dec/14/credit-crunch-high-street