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From Rags to Riches: Unveiling the Secrets of Affluence
Someone inquired of me, what distinguishes the impoverished from the affluent? Conventional wisdom avers that the prime disparity lies in monetary abundance. Do you still harbor queries? Verily, when one is endowed with opulence, the recollection of indigence fades into oblivion. Yet, a cacophony of voices posits that the true dearth lies in opportunity. It is akin to missing the tide of Bitcoin ascendance or embarking on the wrong venture. In essence, misfortune befalls those who fail to grasp opportune moments. Certain quarters contend that destitution stems from a dearth of expertise. In this realm, mastery begets expeditious wealth. Ignorance, therefore, inevitably begets penury. Let us not disregard the contention…
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From Taxi Driver to Life Coach: Unexpected Wisdom Found on a Rainy Night
One evening several months prior, as I reclined in bed, preparing to retire, I received a summons from my employer, indicating an urgent matter requiring attention. Consequently, I toiled overtime until the early hours of the morning, ultimately completing the task. Upon exiting the premises, intending to return home, I discerned a gentle onset of rain. Having abstained from driving that day, I resorted to summoning a ride-hailing service. Promptly, the virtual taxi arrived at the unit’s entrance as scheduled. The proprietor, a gentleman of approximately thirty years, possessed a fashionable coiffure and exuded a pristine demeanor. Initial impressions suggested a jovial disposition, with an inclination towards laughter and an…
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Is Cost Disease Really a Sickness? Rethinking “Unbalanced Growth” in the Age of Automation
The great economist Baumol threw out the “cost disease” half a century ago this concept. At that time, the United States was experiencing unprecedented gold growth. However, from government officials to economists to the general public, “cost disease” is full of out-of-context misunderstandings, making it difficult to make a comprehensive and correct diagnosis and treatment. Fortunately, the Chinese version of Baumol’s book “Growing Trouble: Baumol’s Disease and Its Response” was published in time, which may help stop the spread of specious and dangerous perceptions. 1. The essence of cost disease: the trouble of unbalanced growth There is no denying that cost disease is an annoyance. In 1817, it took four…
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From Complaining to Action: Breaking Free from the Comfort Zone of Poverty
When I was a second-year graduate student, there was a “little poor girl” in the unit where I interned. Every time her salary was paid at the beginning of the month, she went shopping in the middle of the month, and her bank card balance was notified at the end of the month, she would cry out loud about her poverty. One day, she said privately: “I feel that my supervisor is always targeting me, and even the team leader doesn’t like me. Don’t these people see that I work overtime every day? Why do they always pick on me?” During that time, the company A group of young employees…
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Liu Dacai’s Kung Fu: A Story of Craftsmanship and Resilience
Surrounded by majestic mountains and meandering water, Dadao Mountain encompasses the entire village, and Liu Dacai possesses unparalleled swordsmanship. Residing in the picturesque hamlet of Dapingzi, nestled halfway up the mountain behind Dadao Mountain, Liu Dacai was sought after by every household during festivities, joyous occasions, matrimonial unions, and the arrival of new daughters-in-law. Renowned as a culinary virtuoso, Liu Dacai’s expertise in butchery, meat carving, vegetable preparation, and orchestrating grand feasts was truly an art form. The severed head, trotters, and choice cuts of meat were meticulously arranged, eliciting unanimous admiration. In particular, the two-knife technique, resembling a celestial crescent, evoked awe. Paying visits to relatives and accompanying the…
