Predicting Our Economic Future, Again
The original Financial Time Machine (FTM) didn’t just predict the U.S. economy’s trajectory—it nailed it! With rave reviews pouring in from around the globe and a chorus of demands for an update, this new edition is here to shake things up. The FTM laid bare the generational waves crashing through our economy since the Civil War, revealing how these forces have shaped our financial landscape and eerily forecasted our future. So, how did this so-called machine perform? Let’s cut to the chase—it got the last decade spot on! Among its chilling predictions were low unemployment, stagnating growth, and rampant inflation that led us straight into the jaws of stagflation—check, check, and check! Now, the million-dollar question looms: what’s next for our shaky economic future?
Whenever we have had a large generation such as the War Boom Baby Generation at its financial peak, we have had an extraordinary economic expansion. Conversely, when such a generation begins to retire, we have had a long-term economic contraction. These generational ebbs and flows set a series of waves that have washed over the economy for over 160 years representing a tremendous financial force, the magnitude of which financial advisers and business media have underestimated. The boomers had been the largest generation in the history of the United States, for which the book’s models predicted the United States’ longest expansion lasting 25 years (1983 – 2007). During this period, the boomers injected an unprecedented amount of economic stimulus into the economy breaking all the records, but…
The FTM confronts the alarming reality of our ballooning deficits and out-of-control debt, which have surged at an astonishing pace. Imagine if the bill were to arrive in 2027—each American family would be on the hook for more than $500,000, a staggering amount, the equivalent of two average mortgages. Imagine having to pay three times your mortgage payment each month.
Several renowned economists, including those at Harvard, requested copies of the FTM.
KIRKUS REVIEW
A tool for seeing our financial future in a brand-new light.
Oberst offers a compelling framework for predicting our economic future
The author’s model for understanding financial events provides a framework in which crises like the Great Depression can be analyzed through generational economics. The use of “Financial Life Cycles” could potentially also be projected to anticipate future periods of economic upheaval. To this end, Oberst’s “Financial Time Machine” examines megatrends … to determine the impacts of debt, wealth generation, and workforce departures on different age groups. The author then guides readers through creating this model for themselves… Considering the variables in our midst, including high national debt and low personal savings, it is the author’s assessment that the financial future of the United States is unfavorable, and Oberst calls for a swift reform of government spending. Drawing on the analogy of an over-leveraged family struggling to manage new expenses, the author notes that uncurbed national spending and the long-term cost of Medicare could create a financial spiral that will burden future generations. Thorough and easy to follow, the text will fascinate readers hoping to understand the trends that influence our future. Oberst asserts that The Financial Time Machine can also demystify the economic landscapes of other nations, offering an intriguing geopolitical lens for those interested in global power… An informative work with exciting implications, this book puts predictive power into readers’ hands.
U.S. Reviews – 4.7 Stars our of 5.0
**** JoeT Insightfull and well researched I enjoyed the viewpoints of the author and appreciated his ability to connect the dots to come up with a cohesive, if not scientific, explanation of how economic changes are driven by demographic changes.
In the process of proving out the ‘Time Machine’ he goes back to previous generations, presenting a wealth of historical economic and generational data, and shows that his economic model works. I enjoyed this exercise because it provided some interesting history of where we have been in the past and how it might relate to where we are going in the present… I think this book is worth reading for anyone who is interested in the economy… I also think this work has created some rare and easy-to-understand clarity in an area that is often murky and difficult to understand.
***** Shirley Elliott Interesting When I first browsed through this book I had no idea what the author would be trying to convey. This got me started reading it from the beginning. Though I found I couldn’t just go through 100 pages at a time (too much information for that) it got me to really study this book and somewhat see the concept of a Financial Time Machine to understand the past and get a solid idea of what could happen in the future. Good read – I recommend it.
*****Old Moran Holy Smokes! I bought this book based on a friends strong recommendation. I also wanted an intelligent guess about what the future will hold for our money. The Financial time machine answers my questions better than anyone else ever has. The book is big but still easy (for an educational book) to read.
***** tcjack I like this book, and the hypothesis that demographics is a primary cause of the economic cycles is so obvious once you get into it that I don’t know why it isn’t discussed more. Looks like we have another 8 years of slow growth because the boomers are retiring and not spending while the millenials are fewer in number to replace them and have gotten off to a really slow start in their earnings and therefore ability to stimulate the economy.
***** Susan De Stefano Excellent Read The Financial Time Machine provides a clear, easy to understand historical background of the events that have shaped and will shape the economic future of our country. As a layperson who grew up in the 60s, I found the reading fascinating. Points raised by Mr. Oberst are right on. I believe his book could be excellent reading for a college economics program. I believe our politicians would benefit from reading Mr. Oberst’s book which would provide them with a glance into our fiscal past which created our country’s current economic troubles.
International Reviews
“Extremely difficult to leave it before concluding” – Maurine Rohan
“Very wonderful with lucid and perfect answers…Amazing” – Gunner Haag
“It is full of knowledge and wisdom,…developed in an exceptionally easy way. .. This really altered me” – Dr. Alexa Rogahn
“Very good e book and helpful… This creative ebook is wonderful.” – Connor Lowe IV
“A very wonderful book with perfect and lucid explanations. Once you begin to read the book, it is extremely difficult to leave it before concluding.” – Stone Kunz
“A superior quality ebook.” – Geovanny Gerlach
“Very beneficial to all type of folks. I could comprehend everything” – Madaline Nienow
“A very wonderful (book with) perfect answers. Absolutely among the best books I have (ever read)… I am going to read this again in the future. I am just delighted to tell you that this is basically the finest book I have gone through within my personal existence and could be the finest book forever.” – Brian Bauc
Press
Is our slow recovery because of retiring baby boomers?
By Robert D. Oberst–Guest Columnist
See Article
Author’s book about predicting economy
By Sue Reid
See Article
Other news
The Wall Street Journal published two letters from the author regarding generational economics, for which the author received a letter from Ohio Senator Sharrod Brown, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.
Global Future Press 