NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been thinking on this matter for long and any conclusion seems as unlikely as the next, what would be the consequences of the complete fall of the world's economy? either by a war or a natural disaster.

Would we have to start from the beginning, would communism overthrow capitalism?

Communism is every bit as resource-intensive as capitalism, so no, an economic collapse would not necessarily lead to it. A resurgence of nationalism in various forms would be a more likely result.

What do you mean by 'complete fall'? What's the scenario you're looking at?

I've been thinking on this matter for long and any conclusion seems as unlikely as the next, what would be the consequences of the complete fall of the world's economy? either by a war or a natural disaster.

Would we have to start from the beginning, would communism overthrow capitalism?

Most of us would die in the ensuing chaos.

Mostly by starvation or violence.

What do you mean by 'complete fall'? What's the scenario you're looking at?

I'm looking at a complete fall, every country

Most of us would die in the ensuing chaos.

Mostly by starvation or violence.
:)
I'd go to our cottage and try to be self sufficient. And starve quite fast as I can't get any fish out of that damn lake. :(

I'm looking at a complete fall, every country

In short order, most world trade would stop then. Which means that food produced in places like the US, Argentina, and Europe would not find its way to other countries.

Any country not self-sufficient in food would experience mass starvation.

Rent the DVD for the movie The Road Warrior, and watch the first 10 minutes of the movie.

I just realised that this is an outstanding opportunity to advertise...

"The Collapse of Complex Societies" by Joseph A Tainter. The original and still the best text on the mechanisms behind the decline and fall of civilization.

I think there'd be less money.

The world would be all like Mad Max for a bit, then slowely we would start rebuilding small insular econimies - which would gradually merge into larger intra-country economies. However a global economy would never be rebuilt since the monkey armies that hide in the woods will inevitabley seize the oppertunity to strike at mankind at his weakest and thus take over the world...

I think there'd be less money.
We'd have to learn the fine skill of barter. (That might be fun.)

In short order, most world trade would stop then. Which means that food produced in places like the US, Argentina, and Europe would not find its way to other countries.

Any country not self-sufficient in food would experience mass starvation.

Rent the DVD for the movie The Road Warrior, and watch the first 10 minutes of the movie.

You are talking about the end of world trade, that means we would go back to a more barbarian age for example powerful countries attacking weaker ones in order to secure their resources?

I've always said that in any major SHTF scenario (nuclear attack that I somehow survive, global smallpox pandemic, collapse of civilization, etc) that I would go hunting. I won't say more, because that would spoil the surprise.

we would go back to a more barbarian age for example powerful countries attacking weaker ones in order to secure their resources?
:D I'm not even going to say anything. :D

You are talking about the end of world trade, that means we would go back to a more barbarian age for example powerful countries attacking weaker ones in order to secure their resources?
lol
it reminds me of....hmmm... :D

You are talking about the end of world trade, that means we would go back to a more barbarian age for example powerful countries attacking weaker ones in order to secure their resources?

No, it would be more like the instability you see in sub-saharan Africa.

Places with borders represented by lines on the map, but no real countries.

An example might be the constant turmoil in Liberia and Sierra Leone. The governments change through violent overthrow on a regular basis, and masses of starving refugees run from one area to the next, not caring what "country" they are in. And, local warlords who kill and abuse anyone they like run things.

See the conditions of Somalia in the late 1980's early 1990s to see something of what the world would be like.

"The Collapse of Complex Societies" by Joseph A Tainter. The original and still the best text on the mechanisms behind the decline and fall of civilization.
What about that new book by Jared Diamond? I still haven't read it, but it seems to be very good.

Anyway. I agree that most people would starve. Curiously, more underdeveloped nations would be in a better position to organize themselves, since economy hasn't been too good to them anyway, even though without external help they would lose an enormous amount of people, but proportionally less than developed nations would.

There would be massive exodus from the cities to the country. In the end people would organize themselves in smaller political systems and work their way up from there again.

i think countries that can feed themselves will be best off.

everyone would have to refocus their efforts toward survival.

there would be massive unemployment in all developed countries. overwhelming any income support programs that existed. city dwellers would fare the worst

the fate of governments would depend on how the collapse happened and how long the resultant depression lasted. (and on how many people starved to death). in the hardest hit countries, alternate forms of government might be chosen...fascist or communist

What about that new book by Jared Diamond? I still haven't read it, but it seems to be very good.
Seen it reviewed, seems OK, haven't got around to getting a copy though.

Money would be totally useless. There would be no way to buy food, water, electricity, gas, and all the other needed things in life as we know it. There would be several raids and gangs springing up. Eventually a lot of blood shed. Religion would almost dissapear completely. It would total choas. Finally governments would get set up. The united states would most likely be facist. Seeing as how most of them lean to republicans, it would be an anti capitalistic government that was consistently going to war with other countries in order to try to get the economy to work properly.

the possibility of an actual full world economic fall out would have to come from either a huge natural distaster :eek: or :mp5: war :sniper:. this would also mean massive casualties :mad: . when economy is lost in one country it is usually picked up in another, unless the market of the items that the country relies on for economic stability is lost, or becomes obsolete; inwhich case there is usually another product that would take its place, and the economic stability that it provided. The world economy cant really just fail. it cant just up and die without something extremely tragic. Then everyone would most likely be dead. its sad but true. then your thinking more about repopulating the planet :fluffle:, and not how your gonna buy your next playboy and steak dinner.

The government would be forced underground and die there. The military would be the only visible sign of authority and fragmented at that. Those sitting on large food and weapons caches or able to take them will gain strenth and start to expand through conquest, only to die later in filth. Those with survival abilities will disperse to unpopulated areas and live very simple existances, dependent on a lot of luck. Urbanites will die by the millions and their areas will become uninhabitable due to disease and infestation. It would become quite the ugly scene, but after a couple of decades the trend would reverse with a new beginning.

Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath-of-God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling.
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness. Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria.

GhostBusters 1984... :p

The world would be all like Mad Max for a bit, then slowely we would start rebuilding small insular econimies - which would gradually merge into larger intra-country economies. However a global economy would never be rebuilt since the monkey armies that hide in the woods will inevitabley seize the oppertunity to strike at mankind at his weakest and thus take over the world...

Why does that last part sound so familiar...?

As Whispering Legs said, like Africa without the AIDs.

The barter system would replace money, and, since people would be in small groups with limited resources, Communism would be the most effective and wide spread system.

As Whispering Legs said, like Africa without the AIDs.

Why without AIDS?

Why without AIDS?

I have the impression that even without AIDS, Africa still has major zones of anarchy and instability.

Why does that last part sound so familiar...?

Probably because it has allready happened in Glasgow... :D

The barter system would replace money, and, since people would be in small groups with limited resources, Communism would be the most effective and wide spread system.

Now that is scary.

Looting would break out - hopefully most people would be too stupid to steal the canned food and I could get it. Already cooked + lasts a long time.

Looting would break out - hopefully most people would be too stupid to steal the canned food and I could get it. Already cooked + lasts a long time.

So between the marmite and the bully beef...

So between the marmite and the bully beef...

Marmite would last a long time too, but I don't think it'd make much of a meal (although it does have B vitamins). Raiding a chemist for multivitamins would be a good way for prevent malnutrition, actually.

I have the impression that even without AIDS, Africa still has major zones of anarchy and instability.
Thats what I meant. I forget why I put that in there a few minutes ago, and it looks stupid now.

I have the impression that even without AIDS, Africa still has major zones of anarchy and instability.
Yeah. In fact the anarchy and instability are major contributing factors to the spread of AIDS, the same would happen in other parts of the world under the same circumstances. So, it would be like Africa, *including* the AIDS.

I've been thinking on this matter for long and any conclusion seems as unlikely as the next, what would be the consequences of the complete fall of the world's economy? either by a war or a natural disaster.

Would we have to start from the beginning, would communism overthrow capitalism?
No, but some of us would have a real problem getting enough to eat. :(

Looting would break out - hopefully most people would be too stupid to steal the canned food and I could get it. Already cooked + lasts a long time.
Don't forget to get can openers too. :) And the empty cans could make a nice little fort.

Don't forget to get can openers too. :) And the empty cans could make a nice little fort.

Wasn't there an old Warner Brothers cartoon about a cat locked in a house full of cans of cat food while his owner was on vacation, and he didn't have a can opener?

Don't forget to get can openers too. :) And the empty cans could make a nice little fort.
Some of the poorest people in Vietnam use to make shacks out of the sheets of painted metal that had the "Campbell Soup" labels ( and others ) already printed on them. I've always wondered where they got those.