The new year commenced a week ago. During the past few weeks the media is full of looks back and forward. The commentators, analysts and subject matter experts estimate what will happen in the future and/or what will be a consequence of something that happened during 2019.

Predictions can be used to guide our behaviour. Theoretically, past behaviour can be a predictor of future behaviour. Unfortunately it is also true future behaviour may be total unrelated to the the past.

Speculating how to leverage future events to our advantage is a little bit like gambling. Predictions create the underlying logic that helps us believe we are making rationale choices.

The Economy

The Canadian economy, in essence key impacts on jobs and income, Can be a telltale sign of posperity to come, or lack thereoff.

This can be a self fullfilling prophecy. When consumers believe income risk is low and product availability and pricing prospects are good, then the propensity to consume rises.

Greater demand fuels the need for greater supply and voila the market economy spirals up. So, what the population believes lies ahead in the future can in fact influence the future.

Propaganda can be used by governments and corporations to drive desired behaviours. This works to a point but, often and some time in the cycle, reality rudely intrudes and crash.

All the predictions and proclaimations lose their shine and credibility. Smoke and mirrors can work for a while but ultimately reality intrudes.

So what is in store for 2020. Who knows for sure. Based on the past year though my call would be whatever happens it will be unpredictable.