More On Governments

Many European governments are obliged to reduce debts as a percentage of their economies. So how can we grow our economies so that the debt is a smaller percentage and make us look good? As a spokesman for the National Association of Sex Clubs, Jose Roca soon found out when a government official called to ask him the typical cost of a room in a brothel. Because GDP is such an important number, countries want to 'better reflect the economic environment.' Prostitution in Spain generates about 20 billion euros ($27 billion) and thus balloons the GDP. Don't stop there - countries are also tallying tons of cocaine seized from dealers. Only in capitalism, you say? (New York Times, July 26, 2014) John Ayers