The holidays are a grand time for gathering with family and friends, sharing good cheer and returning items you found to be a poor fit or unappealing.

In 2021, economic discourse ranged from squabbles over “how hot is too hot” for prices of just about everything to arguments about who sets workplace rules. It included superficial “supply and demand” analysis and the dismissive “it’s different this time” thinking. Of course, there was the overused “it’s the government’s fault” blame game. And did I mention conspiracy claims too absurd to discuss?

All in a year where we saw more jobs, bigger paychecks, flush bank accounts and soaring stock and housing values.

So in the spirit of year-end retailing — when what’s returned becomes as important as what’s sold — here’s a toast to more rational debate in 2022: 10 economic arguments I’d like to exchange for different debates in 2022.

1. Inflation bashing

Did you get a nice raise this year? How’s your home’s value appreciating? Did your stock portfolio grow? Or perhaps your business has been able to raise prices?

Those are examples of high inflation that folks often forget.

Yes, too much inflation is a monetary pain in the wallet. Yet a rising cost of living has many culprits and more than a few beneficiaries.

2. Quit the shaming

Are you finding it hard to get help from a merchant or service provider? Does your favorite restaurant or store seem painfully short of help?

Don’t blame the record number of workers who have expressed their displeasure with the job market by quitting for a different gig. Try to consider why some folks have bolted from certain workplaces.

“Unemployment pays too well” is by no means a large factor. Remember, how bosses and customers treat employees is a bigger part of this equation.

3. Cargo ship counting

Have you delivered one-fifth more work this year than the good ol’ days of 2019?

If you haven’t, perhaps you should stop finger-pointing at the local supply chain for whatever you can’t find. Did you know that Southern California ports have handled roughly 20% more containers this year than they did before the virus hit?

Why is your new dishwasher, couch, et al, is stuck on a boat off the California coast? Because it’s a sign of excess — as in, folks spending record-high savings levels to fill ships with goods everybody else also wants pronto.

4. Free stuff fears

Raise your hand if you paid to get a COVID-19 vaccine?

Ah, yes, none of you! It seems “socialized” medicine has worked fairly well to reduce the pandemic’s health risks for those who’ve opted to get this government freebie.

Forget complaints about too many handouts. We should chat about other ways to create “free stuff “ that could mitigate other medical nightmares and the financial challenges they create for households.

5. Viral delusions

If you believe in the free market, then you should probably have some respect for employers’ right to determine what are the terms and conditions of employment.

Bosses set everything from work hours to pay rates to performance standards and proper attire. The worker can either abide by those rules or find another employer.

So if a boss wants to require workers to be vaccinated against the pandemic, what’s the problem?

6. Low-rate envy

Why do so few people understand the great economic inequality of government-manufactured low-interest rates?

Do not forget the financially challenged households — the people who actually need help — don’t directly benefit from cheap money policies. Worse yet, dreams like homeownership become even more far-fetched as low rates pump up home prices.

You have to be employed and with a good job, no less, to significantly benefit from this generosity. That’s because only qualified borrowers get to enjoy the historically low rates created as a salve for the pandemic’s economic upheaval.

7. Housing hype

We’re constantly reminded that the pandemic’s surprising home price surge seems unlike the housing boom of the early 2000s, just before the Great Recession.

Even if that analysis is true, it doesn’t mean large risks don’t exist in today’s real estate market.

Homes today are almost as unaffordable as they were in the previous bubble era. What might happen if the incomes of house hunters can’t keep up with high home values and the certainty of pricier mortgages rates next year?

Prices may fall. (Please note who’s downplaying the chances of future housing troubles: the industry folks who get paid with every home sale.)

8. Shortage-phobia

Yes, 2021 saw few cars to buy. A lack of computer chips and other parts made various electronics pricier. Same for windows and home appliances. A lack of factory workers also made certain imported apparel hard to find.

Seasonal stuff is lacking, too, from turkeys to trees — fake and fresh-cut — to glass bottles (think alcoholic beverages).

Even if such goods were available, there’s a shortage of ships to move them.

But is your life truly impacted by these shortages? Or is an oversupply of shortage information the real problem?

9. Name-change game

One would think the pandemic’s economic challenges would have kept CEOs fairly busy.

I was wrong. They apparently had plenty of time to reimagine their companies.

We saw Facebook change to Meta, Staples Center pivot Crypto.com Arena, Square went to Block, the Cleveland Indians to Guardians, Aunt Jemima to Pearl Milling Co., Squaw Valley Ski Resort to Palisades Tahoe, Kia Motors America to Kia America (plus a dubious new logo), and Papa John’s to Papa Johns (yes, just the apostrophe is gone).

Very few name switches are actually worthy of such rebranding. Mostly, I see a signal from the economic top when companies take their eyes off the daily grind and focus energy and lots of cash on a new image.

10. Mislabeled discounts

You know the economy is doing better than most people think when the phrase “BOGO” doesn’t mean “buy one get one free” very often.

Merchants love pumping BOGO for its eye-catching marketing. And in times of economic stress, those deals actually get you two for the price of one.

But when times are better, the math changes at many stores. These days BOGO is more like BOHO — buy one, get one “half-off.”

That’s a price hike hidden in a shrunken discount.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at [email protected]

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