Episode 12 – the finale for Season 1 in our new Manga series – The Smith Family and their Adventures with Money – is now available. We will let everyone calm down from the excitement for a little while to give us time to write and draw Season 2, which will begin on May 24, 2024.
In the meantime, have a bit of fun with it and circulate it to those who you think will benefit …
The Smith Family are a middle-class family living in a city somewhere in the world. The second-generation parents are university educated and have professional occupations. Their two kids attend the local public school.
In Episode 12, the last in Season 1 we encounter Elizabeth out for her usual morning run being confronted by an SMS message from Chris imploring her to leave Ryan and run away with him.
Chris has had been attracted to Elizabeth since their university days together.
Elizabeth realises Ryan is difficult but defers the discussion until later and decides to focus on her role as the organiser of the annual community party on the national holiday.
The scene then turns to the party with the local band (with Kevin on guitar) getting ready to rock while various local characters come into focus and express various views about each other.
The news is that George Jones, the Smith’s next door neighbour and enemy of Ryan, is in trouble for financial mismanagement.
He apparently believed the constant claims by mainstream economists in the media that the Bank of Japan had no choice but to hike interest rates to deal with the current inflationary pressures and started placing financial bets on that happening.
He lost badly and tried to cover his losses before his bosses found out.
Deeper into the mire he went.
Chris explains why the hedge funds cannot overpower a central bank, if the latter has the desire to exert its power.
The day ends with George being taken away in handcuffs by the cops to face his day in court and Daniel expressing his distaste for his father’s excessive lifestyle.
If you think you resemble any of the characters then either continue spreading MMT knowledge or get our textbook and get up to speed, depending on which character you might identify with.
If you have any feedback we will appreciate it, other than ‘this sucks’.
Season 2 news
This is the final episode in Season 1.
We anticipate Season 2 episodes will start on May 24, 2024.
Storm clouds are looming for the Smith Family – both in terms of family dynamics and on the economic front, after concerted campaigns by the government to impose fiscal austerity to reduce its fiscal deficit and the central bank to hike rates to deal with inflationary pressures.
Jobs are being destroyed and Ryan has to confront his own beliefs as things turn sour for him at work.
Will he see Professor Noitawl for what he is – a voodoo economist?
Will Elizabeth walk out on Ryan?
And what about the new exchange student from Japan, Minako Ide who moves in with the Smith Family and attracts the attention of more than one of the local boys?
And many new characters come into the story while various home economic truths are revealed.
It is very time-consuming producing the scripts and drawings and so we need the break between seasons.
That is enough for today!
(c) Copyright 2024 William Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
