Outraged readers called Alan Beattie a “genocidal dictator” for his sensational view about giant pandas, the cuddly endangered species, in the book ‘False Economy’. But Beattie is not aiming to be taken seriously on wildlife. By writing shocking stuff about pandas, he seeks to illustrate how economies get stuck when old habits are not changed, even after they stop serving us.
Beattie rejects the exposition that pandas are in danger of extinction because their habitat was encroached by humans. He believes that these fuzzy giants became vulnerable as their food habits and anatomy did not evolve. Pandas’ diet, almost exclusively bamboo, is low on nutrients and limits habitat options. Further, pandas spend up to 16 hours a day chomping bamboo because their digestive tracts are short. This sort of incompetence and inefficiency ought to be disqualifications for public subsidies, Beattie writes, “Public subsidies to protect pandas should be ended even if it means that they will die out”.
He is impressed with the domestic cat. It is entrepreneurial; has demonstrated a “clearly defined yet flexible business plan”. Descended from wildcats, this savvy creature is solitary but adapts to living alongside humans. Cats spotted and filled a gap in the “market for rodent control services”, recognising humans can be “lucrative customers”. In urban settings, they captured a dominant market share in the high-growth domestic pet sector. Unsurprisingly, “unlike pandas, cats do not require any state subsidy to thrive”. To my mind, 10 Downing Street’s Chief Mouser (https://bbc.in/3ytEWHV) personifies perfectly the feline evolution Beattie writes so entertainingly about.
Continue reading your story on the app
Continue reading your story in the magazine
Cancel Your Beliefs
Unlike other stock recommendation services, Value Research Stock Advisor will return your money if you are not satisfied. Why do we do that?
Will A Merger Create Wealth For You? Here's How To Tell
The announcement of the merger between HDFC and HDFC Bank and a slew of other mergers and acquisitions in recent times have put spotlight on this space. In this cover story, we explain to you why mergers and acquisitions happen, how key M&As in the past have fared and how you can evaluate a merger. After reading this story, you will be able to understand the complexity of this process and decide what to do should your portfolio stock goes through a similar event.
Cold War II & Your Wealth
The second phase of the Cold War between the democratic and the authoritarian blocs will result in elevated inflation. Here’s how to protect your wealth.
The oil problem
Why have we not been able to solve it yet?
‘The litmus test for any M&A is long-term accretion to earnings and ROE'
NEELESH SURANA CIO, Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Mitigating climate change
Reducing dependence on fossil fuels is the need of the hour but the world seems to be moving in the opposite direction
Busting Popular Macroeconomic Myths
Are rising rates bad for the market and is high inflation bad for quality stocks?
War And The Economy
The impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the world economy
Your Investment Options In The Life-Insurance Space
As the LIC IPO approaches, here's how the three listed life insurers compare with each other
What you must know about LIC
LIC's IPO may hit the Street soon. Here are some facts and figures that will help you assess this insurance behemoth.
‘Retirement has never once crossed MY MIND'
Dame Maureen Lipman on working through grief and why she’s still as ambitious as ever
Good Brew
How an Ottawa kombucha maker helps people recovering from addiction
Moulin Beige
The ladies’ can-can is the big attraction at the social club’s fundraiser. But one person may just spoil the show
Wenford A 7¼ Inch Gauge 2-4-0 Beattie Well Tank
The stage has now been reached where the well tank body can be completed but beforehand there are some internal details to add.
Resident evil
Jenna Coleman discovers her new home has a dark and spooky past in Inside No. 9