Rhys Hagan's Blog
April 19, 2024
Poetry and Golf
Poetry is like golf.
The first time you watch professional golf and the first time you read a famous poem, they seem kind of boring.
Then you give it a try yourself. You realise to be good at these things actually takes a lot of patients, skill, and determination.
So, the next time you watch a professional play golf, or you read a famous poem. . .
They're still just so fucking boring.
Sovereignty is available now:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/06453469...
The first time you watch professional golf and the first time you read a famous poem, they seem kind of boring.
Then you give it a try yourself. You realise to be good at these things actually takes a lot of patients, skill, and determination.
So, the next time you watch a professional play golf, or you read a famous poem. . .
They're still just so fucking boring.
Sovereignty is available now:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/06453469...
April 13, 2024
Writing Inspiration: The Economy Hates Us
In 1958, New Zealand economist, Bill Phillips, created what we now call the Phillips Curve. It's gone through plenty of changes over the years to factor in more economic nuances, however, the principle has stayed the same.
The Phillips Curve suggests that there is a correlation between the unemployment rate and inflation. So, what does that mean? It means that if everyone of working age within a society had a job (zero unemployment), inflation would be through the roof and prices would go out of control. Conversely, if there was no inflation, there would have to be a significant portion of working age people who are unemployed.
If everyone has a job, the economy collapses.
The unemployment rate generally sits around 4 - 5%. That means between 1 in 20 to 1 in 25 people need to remain jobless otherwise this house of cards blows down. Now, I know not everyone in a society is interested in working, but why should they be when the odds are stacked against them?
I feel like this is something that isn't talked about a lot and it makes me want to write about it. Would be tricky to fit into a work of fiction, though. Maybe it would make a good twist on the legal/courtroom drama. An economic drama? A politician who came from poverty who attempts to change the economic system to something more egalitarian?
I don't know, you tell me. Would you read a book about something so obscure and nuanced?
The Phillips Curve suggests that there is a correlation between the unemployment rate and inflation. So, what does that mean? It means that if everyone of working age within a society had a job (zero unemployment), inflation would be through the roof and prices would go out of control. Conversely, if there was no inflation, there would have to be a significant portion of working age people who are unemployed.
In short, to ensure the economy remains stable, the government must make sure a certain number of people don't have a job.
If everyone has a job, the economy collapses.
The unemployment rate generally sits around 4 - 5%. That means between 1 in 20 to 1 in 25 people need to remain jobless otherwise this house of cards blows down. Now, I know not everyone in a society is interested in working, but why should they be when the odds are stacked against them?
I feel like this is something that isn't talked about a lot and it makes me want to write about it. Would be tricky to fit into a work of fiction, though. Maybe it would make a good twist on the legal/courtroom drama. An economic drama? A politician who came from poverty who attempts to change the economic system to something more egalitarian?
I don't know, you tell me. Would you read a book about something so obscure and nuanced?
