Okay, time for psychic DCUM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will the recession end and what will it take for the US to get there?

Hello dear. Technically, the recession will haved ended by Q4 2009, with both Q3 and Q4 2009 showing (albeit slow) positive growth. However, over the coming 2-3 years, the US economy will remain on a path of anemic growth, averaging below 1% a year between 2010-2012, with consequent effects on the labor market and investment. Unemployment will rise above 10% by end 2009, and will remain in the high range of 8-10% over the slow growth period. While credit will finally ease for businesses, investment will remain slow as well.

For the economy to emerge from a potentially long period of slow growth (which is as dangerous as recession), it will need to find new sources of growth. The economy will not rebound from the recession operating under the same business model as 2007/08. One large source of productivity growth can come in the form of migration. The US economy, along with many other industrialized countries, is facing a demographic transition of epic proportions, with a workforce increasingly unable to support a vastly growing greying population. Even with relatively high levels of unemployment, labor markets in US are becoming increasingly tight in key skills (not only highly specialized technical skills, but also in low-skills as well). Rather than being substitutes for US workers, these foreign laborers are increasingly complementary to the US skills set: thus, migration can ultimately improve the employment prospects for US workers. But realizing the potential benefits of widescale migration will require significant changes to US thinking and policies, which at this point are geared only toward limited inflows of high skilled workers.

[Anonymous]

Dear DCUM psychic: My job is okay, not great, and there are many periods of frustration. Should I start looking for a new job? Or should I just be grateful that my job doesn't suck as badly as it could and that in this climate I even have a job at all?

We're TTC'ing, BTW.

[Anonymous]

Psychic Mum... Will I ever meet the one? And will I still be able to have a baby?

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Psychic -- while everyone dreams of getting out of DC we are moving back. Will my angst about moving, schools and all those items discussed on DCUM (which really stress me the f' out!) be all right in the long run?

Two f'er?

I am going to look for a job after school starts. Feelings on that? Good contacts but still worried I won't land in as comfortable of a spot as I had before.

[Anonymous]

Psychic Mum: will my prayed for second child come? After a year of trying for #1, now 20 months for 2nd, *6* clinics throughout, 3 rounds of injectibles, ongoing accupuncture, nutritionist, timed sex, and long crying jags: should I give up? Or will I have my second child?

[Anonymous]

Psychic DCUM - Will my kids get into good schools?

[Anonymous]

pp here - schools = high school and college

[Anonymous]

Should we go for three or not rock the boat? DH and I went through a rocky time in our marriage, did therapy, now are in a much better place, and think of expanding the fam. If your answer is yes, oh wise psychic dcum, should I wait til after the 20th high school reunion next summer so I can party it up?