How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes

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C H A P T E R
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A
fter a few weeks, Able, Baker, and Charlie had 
been raking in the fi sh with their newly built nets, and 
a two-fi sh-per-day catch had become the norm. After 
a threadbare one-fi sh- per-day diet, who could blame 
them? But having experienced the benefi ts that fl ow from 
self-sacrifi ce, they decided to save a good portion of that 
potential consumption. Every couple of days, they made 
do with just one fi sh apiece.
Released from the need to fi sh every waking moment, 
the islanders fi nally had the freedom to undertake other 
productive and enjoyable activities. Able was able to 
devote some time to designing and constructing more 
functional—and more fl attering—palm-leaf clothing. 
Baker expanded his diet and culinary skills by gathering 
coconuts, and Charlie built the island’s fi rst hut.
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