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Unofficial Survey: Less Money Equals Higher Quality

Is this a philosophical question? Not really, it is a basic question we ask of ourselves when most big decisions are made. Somehow, with all the big events in the world, this question seem more relevant today. I wondered what Israelis feel with the global economic downturn, differences between Netanyahu's policies and a new American administration and the continuation of Ahmadinejad in Iran. The thinking goes that when the economy was strong people were more concerned about making money than enjoying life. Now that there is less business and fewer opportunities people would enjoy life more (other stressing events emphasize this more). Two friends just came back from the US reported on Americans also getting back to basics. Family, home, community, the basic things in life are back in focus. Here we see reports of bank failures and government bailouts - is America on a verge of a crash? Not so people say, the opposite, they are hustling for their next big-gig. So how do people really think and feel? Israel is different from the US in people's extremism. In the US to be extreme is considered good: the richest, smartest, first, fastest, most ambitious... not so in Israel. Here social culture is more communal: family, school class, neighborhood, army unit - the group and your belonging have higher value than individual qualities. At least that was the thinking for the last generation (50+ year olds). Israelis in their 20s to 40s seem to have taken on the American values and follow career and money. Some say it is just a lifestyle choice: an evening in the park with the kids or a plane ride to a far away hotel. But wait a minute, there are still strong signs of traditional family life here. So maybe the economic downturn is an opportunity to go back to basics?

I decided to look for signs of life in the family and quality of life front. An unofficial survey of friends indicates a return to home and family preference. People see their lives different from just a year ago (when world economy just started falling). If the slow economy started people feeling better about family, work conditions is what people really clinched it. People feel that work is too much of a burden, it takes too much time out of life. What people say is deceiving sometimes. Actions are usually a better indicator of changes in behavior. Are Israelis spending less time in bars and restaurants? Do they shop less in boutiques? Do they keep their cars and refrigerators a little longer? A walk in Tel Aviv parks during evening hours definitely reveals more families picnicking and kids playing. Restaurants and bars are visibly empty, just a year ago any good restaurant had a line. With cars you can tell things are bad, there have been more discount deals and large car billboard advertisements than ever before. In the papers there are articles comparing the features of new cars, but also articles about buyers waiting for the change in technology to hybrid or electricity. Once in a while you see a shiny Chrysler or Lexus on the road, they stick out so much, people stare as if the owners are shouting, I don't care about the economy, this was the deal of the decade. Never mind, some people need their shiny cars...

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