But a Jape

“If profits are low but still in the black during this economic downturn, this is known as a ‘Black Bear Market’ – the best defense is to stand your ground, make your economy appear as large as possible, and make as much noise about net profits as you can. This will intimidate the markets back into recovery.

If the downturn is much more dire, in a way that one could describe the market experts as ‘collectively soiling themselves,’ this is known as a ‘Brown Bear Market.’ In this case, stay calm and play dead – make no sudden moves in your finances and protect your vulnerable spots by moving your money to more secure, less volatile assets. You might get a few nicks here and there while its interest is high, but you can wait out the bear market until its interest rate lowers and it eventually moves on.

If the situation is even worse, wherein one can describe every chart measuring economic health as nothing but ‘red against a white background,’ this is known as a ‘Polar Bear Market.’ Your best bet is to hope the rising sea levels wash these troubles away.”

– James P. Sandoval, BBA in Economics

The art market is a surprisingly resilient industry during financial crises – prices may still fall during economic downturns, but it is still less so when compared to the market as a whole. However, this security is more the case for art collectors than it is for the artists themselves, who typically struggle regardless of the economy’s performance as a whole.

So, as a hedge for myself, I have been slowly building my own personal collection of bear–based art pieces. I’m certain the monetary value of this collection will remain steady for years to come.

– James