Now it seems that there will be "trickle-up" instead: Volvo's sharp design, excellent safety engineering and strong build quality will influence everything Ford does.

FORBES: Overview

Which leads to the trickle-up theory: couture, being about lasting luxury instead of fashion fads, doesn't set trends but rather picks them up by osmosis, and last March the ready-to-wear shows were full to the brim with furs, from Ann Demeulemeester's cave-woman wraps to Amanda Wakeley's ermine jumper to Fendi's furs-that-didn't-look-like-furs (they looked like hobo patchwork coats, chunky grandma jumpers, and velvet skirts).

ECONOMIST: Fur and fashion

This has a trickle-down effect, preventing younger generations from moving up in the workplace or from moving into the workplace to acquire the wealth they would need to drive new demand for homes.

FORBES: Dirt Poor Echo Boomers May Find Cheap Cribs In Burbs, Shun Urban Living