However terrific something might seem, there's always a dispiriting flip side. Just ask the Swedes, who were so excited to have Beyoncé perform earlier this year that their exuberance fuelled a significant increase in inflation. The joyful activity of attending a pop concert turns out to be fiscally damaging - on a continuum with war, a pandemic or sharemarket plunge.
Central bankers are still so preoccupied with the Beyoncé liquidity effect, given persistent post-Covid inflation, that you can't rule out the World Bank warning governments against issuing further visas to the performer.
Eeyores will accordingly greet the Rolling Stones' generally rapturously received - new songs with dismay. Will Mick'n'Keef also be so socially irresponsible as to tour, prolonging the cost-of-living crisis in the developed world? Shouldn't these inflationary pop stars stay home tinkering with train sets and fixing potholes like Rod Stewart?
Denne historien er fra September 23-29 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra September 23-29 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.