Tuberous Macro-Economics

I've just been reading the Telegraphs's "shape of things to come" report on the IMF's gloomy predictions for the Western economies.

Now I'm no economist. But as far as I can see, what the IMF's basically doing is the equivalent of Private Fraser muttering "we're dooooomed" while Lance-Corporal Jones, thinly disguised as a chubby-cheeked Old Etonian, runs around shouting "don't panic". But on the whole, it looks like next spring may be a good time to plant plenty of potatoes.