Why Are Gas Prices So High?

When a recurring topic comes up in the news I enjoy hearing what other countries are say on the same subject. This has always fascinated me. And sometimes, going beyond cultural differences, you even get glimpses of the political propaganda within different countries.

One of the places I go for a quick glance at pan-European news is at Euro Topics. They review the European press and a team of translators gives you the news in a few languages, including English.

I like it because they are often summaries and quick to read. I also get to read from leading newspapers in countries where I don't speak the language.

German Social Prediction On Rising Gas Prices

Rising gas prices is a very common topic just about everywhere today. One article recently caught my attention. It is from the Süddeutsche Zeitung in Germany. Here it is:

"Europe is equipped for the end of the oil age, writes Jörg Häntzschel, but America's mobile society will soon become too expensive: "This wild, vast country was transformed by a hyper-efficient metastructure of traffic systems. ... Now, however, traffic flows in this infrastructural organism are slowing to a trickle. The worst hit is air traffic. ... Even in the best of times, Europe never departed from its culture of moderation. By contrast, America must now turn its back on the rampant splurges of the last two decades. The country is in for a bumpy ride. ... Not only does Europe have a functioning public transport system, it can also fall back on its old city structures when necessary. America has practically surrendered itself to oil. ... One day the drive to work will no longer be worthwhile. A paltry rural existence awaits those bereft of their livelihood and freedom of movement. America's map was drawn by cheap oil. Now it is being redesigned." (13/06/2008)"

This article grabbed my attention. Of course it is written by a German. That's obvious.

I have no idea if the author is right. And I can't say I can agree with him or not. His analysis sure rings of truth in some ways. But it is a bit drastic. I have lived in Europe for more than 20 years and can't imagine life without a car. We are all feeling the effects of high gas prices on the cost of food. I doubt I feel safer from the consequences of high gas prices here than if I was living in North America.

European Economic Forecasting And Social Predictions

What is interesting is the opinion in this German articles reminded me very much of one of my favorite books.

Megatrends Europe by Adjiedj Bakas.

This is a great book to stretch your mind, re-align your conceptions of the near future and it provide lots of thought provoking hypothesis on the future of Europe. It's economic forecasting with social predictions for Europe.

I have been planning on doing a Book Review on Megatrends Europe for a while. I like it that much. In case you haven't guessed I only write book reviews on books I really, really like. Each time I think of doing the review on Megatrends Europe I can't imagine being able to keep my review to only one article.

Back to Megatrends Europe. I did not know of "trendwatcher" Adjiedj Bakas before I stumbled across his book in a Parisian bookstore. But when I brought it home, I learned that my daughter had to study his work for her baccalaureate. She actually knew how to pronounce his name!

If you are interested in stretching your cultural perceptions and are open to listening to possible changes in European cultures, Adjiedj Bakas' book will do all of that and also surprise you.

I would love to know the social predictions Adjiedj Bakas can foresee for the rising gas prices. He takes current cultural trends and projects outcomes for the future.

International Business Time Travel

Why do I find this so interesting?

International business opportunities exist for those able to accurately foresee economic movements and accurately evaluate how different cultures will react to them.

It's like time travel for international business. Stimulating.