All right I am being both patronising and sarcastic but bear with me.
I was out with my dogs this morning and by the time I arrived home I felt that most walks I have with my canine beauties are of profound allegorical importance and I can extract life affirming lessons that would help the world to gain insight on the world we live in.
Aim high!
So my allegorical tale starts just before the front door . There are only 3 important financial forces (I made that up I just happen to have 3 dogs- just come with me on this).
The first force is the big one. It is the big dog! This one needs a firm hand and a strong leash for if you turn your back on it for one second it will disappear into the woods and run amok. We shall call this dog Inflation. Do you see where I am going with this?
This dog takes a bit of time to get it girdled up in its harness the other 2 dogs, lets call them Growth and Consumer Confidence are less difficult once this has been achieved. Growth is a little bundle of energy that pleases itself, starts fights with bigger and uglier dogs and only chases half the balls you throw for her. Consumer confidence is a shy little rescue dog that has probably been abused in a former life and is now scare of its own shadow, growls at all and sundry and will make a run for cover if any big dogs such as Inflation take any sort of interest in her.
Once Inflation is shackled the other two dogs come to the lead more oblingly and Consumer Confidence does get excited at the prospect of fresh air and the chance to have go to the toilet. Growth doesnt care as long as it tastes of chicken.
And so our economy bounds down the avenue of possibility until we reach the park of harsh economic reality. Growth and Consumer Confidence can be let off leash soonest and can be trusted to look after themselves but Inflation must only be allowed out if the coast is clear and free from the tyranny of the St Bernard of Depression (Inflation goes to town on that one) and the Shitsu of Authoratative Regulation. A spoilt brat of a dog never let off its lead by its poorly directed owner who then tells you how badly trained all your dogs are. Inflation takes lumps out this one.
How am I doing so far
So Inflation can be let off to run as longas it takes growth with it but always under the control of the squeaky ball of Interest Rates. A few quick squeezes of this ball and Inflation returns to my side. all the while Growth and Consumer Confidence just trot about sniffing and doing all the other things dogs do in parks.
And so as you meander around the park of harsh economic realities whilst keeping your charges in sight or at least able to respond you can then return home safe in the knowledge that your economy has progressed in a safe and orderly fashion.
Never relax though because you never know when the Staffordshire of chaos will erupt onto the scene. Allowing Inflation a little rough and tumble is all very well but when Inflation pisses off into the woods and Chaos turns its attention to Consumer Confidence you have to act quickly and leash Consumer Confidence because she will just bolt for home and cross the lane of Perpetual Jeopardy without a second thought.
Edging closer to Consumer Confidence with out her running away is quite a trick and might involve telling her that you are headed in a different financial direction and when she finally turns in you direction she can be leashed and brought to safety
Growth, meanwhile doesnt care what its doing as long as it tastes of chicken
However you sometimes have to grab what you can and hope as you run after Consumer Confidence that there is no object propelled to flatten her.
Did I tell you I had 3 cats?
It's at this point that the black cat called Assets decides that it wants to run alongside Inflation, Growth and Consumer Confidence and you must just leap across the Lane of Perpetual Jeoperdy and hope your Assets follow you and remain intact.
There you have it. Economic and financial activity as seen through eyes of 3 canine lovelies!
