When did the term "real economy" start?

[Rhys]

It seems to me that everybody and their mother talks about "the real economy"... what does this mean? Is it just my imagination, or did I not hear anything about this before last week... what is the "fake economy"? Is the "real economy" what they called "main street" until last week?

[JosephTheLibertarian]

It seems to me that everybody and their mother talks about "the real economy"... what does this mean? Is it just my imagination, or did I not hear anything about this before last week... what is the "fake economy"? Is the "real economy" what they called "main street" until last week?

Maybe the 51% of the economy that is not directly controlled by the government? I don't know.

[RSLudlum]

maybe it's a reference to how the stock market seems seperated from mainstreet economics. Many believe the stock market has strayed from true investments to just a casino mentatlity, and has no real connection with the average working man.

[Rhys]

maybe it's a reference to how the stock market seems seperated from mainstreet economics. Many believe the stock market has strayed from true investments to just a casino mentatlity, and has no real connection with the average working man.

i think that must be it. i wish they'd stop with the smoke and mirrors. I think 'credit default swap' takes the cake still for using confusing language to talk about something relatively simple. lol