Hot Waitress Economic Index

The recession spawns a new economic index in New York City. Hugo Lindgren explains:

In New York, we have our own economic indicators, often based on the degree to which people are being thwarted by the lack of opportunity. An old standby is the Overeducated Cabbie Index. The Squeegee Man Apparition Index is another good one. There’s also the Speed at Which Contractors Return Calls Index: within 24
hours, you’re in a recession; if they call you without prompting, that’s a depression.

The indicator I prefer is the Hot Waitress Index: The hotter the waitresses, the weaker the economy. In flush times, there is a robust market for hotness. Selling everything from condos to premium vodka is enhanced by proximity to pretty young people (of both sexes) who get paid for providing this service. That leaves more-punishing work, like waiting tables, to those with less striking genetic gifts. But not anymore.

Actually during boom times many hot women are simply taken off the market completely by high earning investment bankers and the like. Once, Goldman's new round of bonuses kick in at year end, the new crop of hot NYC arrivals will be removed from the scene. Of course, there are always more hot women than high earners, which makes the competition for the high earners quite interesting to watch.