פרסומים אחרונים במדור "חברה וכלכלה"

although i don't neccessarily think the article is exhaustive of all important driving forces beind the bubble phenomenon (and it doesn't claim to be, which makes it an honest read), i think the "feedback loop" mechanism operates differently in the real estate market, with the major factor to consider being TIME DELAYS. those kind of delays in the system are often enough to create major oscillations, with huge benefits to the people who are in the right place at the right time, and huge penalties for laggards who just follow the herd too late.
if interested in system dynamics, feedback loops and such, this would be the place to find out more:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/007238...

i agree. i was not saying there is no bubble in real estate. i was just saying that the feedeback mechanisms working there are different.

are you talking about Boston?

i think we need to separate the perks from the bubble.
the bubble meant that every new startup could raise venture capital, or IPO and cash in with real ease. there was an overvaluation as well as a miscalculation of risks.
however, the perks were just an outcome of the laws of supply and demand, as there was great demand for good people and not enough supply. hence, the cumuter geek was king. i don't think that was an irresponsible way to spend money. getting good employees is one of he best investments you can make. it's keeping tham (in a market where everybody has money to spend on good employees) that's the trick. giving a manager who earns millions an additional bonus (because he needs to be "incentivized") instead of delivering those funds to the shareholders (which were the employyes themselves in the high times of the bubble) is irresponsible. you could also consider putting that huge pile of money back into the business as an engine to growth.

i apologize for the typos. typing while walking and chewing gum is too much...