You won't have people come out and admit this, but in modern society, there is this delusional belief that is nearly standard beliefs, that somehow, markets will magically provide what is needed. Just throw your wishes out there, and every problem will be resolved by them. This is implied and felt to be valid, even if not admitted. It is an underlying assumption. I was tempted to write about this but then held off until I ran into an article recently. Anyhow, here are examples of what I am talking about:
* Employers have increasingly managed to make lifetime employment a thing of the past. It is find the perfect worker, then hire them, and then dipose of them when you have a change in the markets. You skimp on training and you don't invest. You believe that the market will find the perfect candidate. There is less of a feeling a need to carry the overhead of investing in a workforce, because of the costs. And you try to do more with less, if needed. The market will magically provide what is needed. This view is what motivated to me to write on this, and is discussed in this article:
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2012/06/26/Why-Good-People-Cant-Find-Jobs.aspx#page1
* The entire basis of Keynsian economics is increasing demand. Somehow, the belief is, if you throw enough money out there, EVERY problem will go away, because markets will supply what is needed.
* Environmentalist, and those who are heavily green at all costs, believe that technology will appear in markets, and that there isn't a need for tradeoffs at all. The belief is that you can ban everything, make everyone go solar, and it will work out. The market will magically make what is needed to appear, because markets do this.
* There is beliefs that issues such as health care, can be solved by markets also. Markets will produce their own supply of doctors, and other professionals, and there will be enough to go around. It will work out.
* The realm of self-help and self-improvement area is full of folly of things that generally don't work, being paid for and people getting rich off it, out of sheer desperation. People believe they can go to a store and buy what is needed to fix every ill. Apparently getting in shape, and good intimate relationships are a single purchase a way. Same with family life and morals also. The belief is you can buy you way to happiness, and markets can provide this. I remember one line a book on dating and relationships, which made a comment that people gave more thought to what kind of refrigerator someone would want to buy, than to who they want as a partner, as if you can just go to a store and find someone. Yes, heck, use match.com and you can mail order the perfect person. Yes, the meet/meat market is one where you can just acquire the right person for you.
These are just some of the areas that have people thinking that a market will magically provide what they want, when they want. Everything from happiness to sustainable economics and full employment, and maximum profits and everything is yours for the picking. Just wait and see. There is always next year's model if this one year's isn't ideal.
