What are some not so obvious things that damage a country's economy?

[royalfestus]

many things can damage the economy number one is fraud,corruption that is silent kill the economy we know that not all in the government are loyal they can steal the money from the people. That's why there some country that want of freedom because of greedy people.

Many things but not mainly fast food, It does look quite relevant. It is more about international goods exchange especially to trade the hard currencies. Most countries with good economy and high population have high number of fast food joint, they serve good purpose for the community, it may affect the health of the population if not properly managed but not the over all economy. 

[FlightyPouch]

manipulations. especially the political manipulations can easily affect on the general financial issues of weak countries. that is why they easily play with such countries and make their money more worthless.

Reading your post I remembered Japan since my friend told me that they kept on printing their money the reason the value of their yen go down. I don't know if that is true but when I checked the price at that time, I can visit Japan with a small pocket money like 2000 pesos or like $40. But right now, the price is higher and that 2000 pesos will never be enough.

[koura_cc]

Things that damage the economy indirectly.

For example I feel that fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle leads chronic health problems that probably affects the economy not just monetarily.

Of course we can't just deny these people care, just promote a healthier lifestyle.

What are other things that we can change that will affect the economy in a positive way?

Several factors that come from a nation's idiosyncrasy can greatly affect its economic development, for instance, a lack of embracing ingenuity in the national zeitgeist can lead to heavy impairment of startups, venture capital or angel investments ratio and greatly limit the development of emergent markets within that country. You see this happening even on relatively stable economies; when running under said closed minded societies they're directly impacted on market diversity. An easy target to illustrate this position is fossil fuel dependent countries.

On the other hand, even if the local investment environment won't help bring to fruition a potentially profitable idea due to the idiosyncrasy of the country's population (or at least the investment leaders and authorities), by having global crowdfunding or investment platforms this could allow those startups to connect with professionals that'll invest in business propositions whose projected market response (even if local) can be positive.

[SirLancelot]

Things that damage the economy indirectly.

For example I feel that fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle leads chronic health problems that probably affects the economy not just monetarily.

Of course we can't just deny these people care, just promote a healthier lifestyle.

What are other things that we can change that will affect the economy in a positive way?

There’s nothing like damaging the economy indirectly, people already knows everything that can damage the economy and those who do such things are doing it on purpose. They are aware of it already and still just want to do it because of their own selfish gains, without caring what’s going to be the effect of it on their country. Especially politicians and those in power are the ones that can be doing such things, exploiting their own country and covering it up and no one would know about it. So all those people that does such things are not doing because they don’t know the effect of it, they already know.

Politician are the basic problem that most countries do have, it is not every citizens that know the difference between left and right, there are some citizens that are engaged in something that is indirectly killing the economy without them knowing themselves because of lack of understanding and illiteracy, which is why they put the leaders there to direct them on things they can do to add value to economy and things they should not do that will damage the economy , but instead , they prefer to just go to the position, to steal funds and do crazy things that will worsen the economy of a country, and what they do that is very bad is to steal the fund from a country, and take it to another country thereby growing another man’s economy rather than their won.

[Betwrong]

Apart from addiction to social media and the Internet in general, addiction to alcohol, drugs and video games, and other harmful things mentioned in this thread, such as eating too much of fast food, I think it's decreasing of the birth rate, especially in the developed countries, is what needs our attention. The population becomes older, which basically means fewer and fewer working-age people in the economy.

[buwaytress]

Partnerships with regional central banks, taking the advice of the World Bank, and other old financial/banking institutions. The logic is that these guys know what they're doing, and listening to them is going to help you out. But conventional wisdom continues to ignore that markets act with extreme irrationality and so don't always work to the prescribed theory.

So yeah, you could do a lot worse if you don't take the advice of the big boys and as a country, act on your own knowledge and context. Though of course I don't really think countries who go wow over Bitcoin for the sake of it know much better what they're doing...

[Indamuck]

Things that damage the economy indirectly.

For example I feel that fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle leads chronic health problems that probably affects the economy not just monetarily.

Of course we can't just deny these people care, just promote a healthier lifestyle.

What are other things that we can change that will affect the economy in a positive way?

The medical industry wants sick people, there isn't much money to be made when all of your citizens are healthy.  Plus I think unhealthy people consume more which stimulates other parts of the economy.

[Sharon121212]

One major thing that can affect a country economy and is even affecting my country is bad government.
Bad government is cancerous to any economy with the corrupt practice done by the government looting public funds to there own selfish uses would cripple any economy.
Also poor workforce(more elder citizens than younger citizens) even though some country don't experience this by having adequate youth still some of the youth are not all interested in being useful and add to the nation human resources

[juperos]

Things that damage the economy indirectly.

For example I feel that fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle leads chronic health problems that probably affects the economy not just monetarily.

Of course we can't just deny these people care, just promote a healthier lifestyle.

What are other things that we can change that will affect the economy in a positive way?

In my personal opinion, the use of plastic is making the environment worse. it is an indestructible item and it is getting more and more and the amount of garbage is being greatly increased as fast food services increase.
I think that people should stop using plastic glasses, plastic utensils and plastic wrap.
Any business needs a clean, green environment to get the best conditions for development.

[TheCoinGrabber]

I would say, a generous welfare might have the opposite effect than what was intended. I'm not saying everyone just want to remain dependent on the government their entire lives but if you're getting a few benefits (a house, a monthly allowance, etc.) and just making an extra hundred or so in income could make you lose all that, you might end up operating below your potential.

Either that or just cheating (doing sidehustles that can't be taxed or even audited, etc), which would mean that you're making more than enough to be above poverty and you're just siphoning money that could have been used for other things.

[Betwrong]

Fast food, to some extent, improves the economy of some less developed countries. 
Yes, it spoils health and efficiency, but on average, the state needs a person to work until a certain period, up to about 50-60 years, which eating fast food fully implies.

There are different kinds of fast food. For example, street food is also called fast food, but in many countries street food is nutritious and healthy meal that doesn't harm your health. However, if by "fast food" you mean McDonald's-like kind of food, I disagree with you. What is bad for people's health is also bad for the country's economy in the long run.

[SquallLeonhart]

Things that damage the economy indirectly.

For example I feel that fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle leads chronic health problems that probably affects the economy not just monetarily.

Of course we can't just deny these people care, just promote a healthier lifestyle.

What are other things that we can change that will affect the economy in a positive way?

The medical industry wants sick people, there isn't much money to be made when all of your citizens are healthy.  Plus I think unhealthy people consume more which stimulates other parts of the economy.

Lol, I think you have a very wrong perception of unhealthy people and food, how can you say that unhealthy people consume more when you have never seen any sick person that they don’t beg to take food, most unhealthy people automatically loses appetite for food when they become sick, anyway, this really has nothing to do with what stops economy from growing indirectly.

Government has always been the problem, if there was even proper medical center, the number of unhealthy people will reduce and where I see unhealthy people indirectly affecting the growth of economy is just because they are not able to work then, and when they cannot work, it has a way of limiting the production of a country when it comes to labor.

[blue_nexus15]

Imagine, inconsistencies, inaccuracies in data, charts for every activity, business, life, banking, society, health, construction, payment will cause inequality. It is not fair that over time, it will cause cracks in the contemporary social organization structure. Autonomy is a prerequisite in today's society. Democratic freedom is not a luxury but the fact that people need them. That motivates the blockchain technology to come into being and people become stronger and more equitable.

[awik p]

Things that damage the economy indirectly.

For example I feel that fast food and an unhealthy lifestyle leads chronic health problems that probably affects the economy not just monetarily.

Of course we can't just deny these people care, just promote a healthier lifestyle.

What are other things that we can change that will affect the economy in a positive way?

The medical industry wants sick people, there isn't much money to be made when all of your citizens are healthy.  Plus I think unhealthy people consume more which stimulates other parts of the economy.

Lol, I think you have a very wrong perception of unhealthy people and food, how can you say that unhealthy people consume more when you have never seen any sick person that they don’t beg to take food, most unhealthy people automatically loses appetite for food when they become sick, anyway, this really has nothing to do with what stops economy from growing indirectly.

Government has always been the problem, if there was even proper medical center, the number of unhealthy people will reduce and where I see unhealthy people indirectly affecting the growth of economy is just because they are not able to work then, and when they cannot work, it has a way of limiting the production of a country when it comes to labor.

when there are employees who are sick, I have never heard of companies having difficulty doing their routines, and they can still solve the problem. most of them are sick because of the high level of activity and the wrong diet, plus less rest. although ready-to-eat food increases the risk of illness, but with the presence of ready-made food companies, increasing the economy of a country, because it involves many employees

[Bitcoin Seller]

Imagine, inconsistencies, inaccuracies in data, charts for every activity, business, life, banking, society, health, construction, payment will cause inequality. It is not fair that over time, it will cause cracks in the contemporary social organization structure. Autonomy is a prerequisite in today's society. Democratic freedom is not a luxury but the fact that people need them. That motivates the blockchain technology to come into being and people become stronger and more equitable.

Scaring number of poorest and unhealthy people, suffering from diseases increasing gradually is the thing that destroys not only the economy but most spheres of our life. If social programs for helping these people do not start working widely and everywhere, the crisis, worse than ever, will happen.

Actually, it does not have a direct connection with the cryptocurrencies.

[aliceHortrex]

Fast food, to some extent, improves the economy of some less developed countries. 
Yes, it spoils health and efficiency, but on average, the state needs a person to work until a certain period, up to about 50-60 years, which eating fast food fully implies.

There are different kinds of fast food. For example, street food is also called fast food, but in many countries street food is nutritious and healthy meal that doesn't harm your health. However, if by "fast food" you mean McDonald's-like kind of food, I disagree with you. What is bad for people's health is also bad for the country's economy in the long run.

I agree that places where people can eat quickly quickly raise the economy.  It touches not only McDonald’s.  People want to pass the time on routine things because they find such cafes so as not to waste time.  But I think that this is not the only way.  I think that now it’s important to order one home on the Internet and not just food, it can be clothes or household appliances or something else.  People are very lazy creatures and want to reduce the number of their movements.

[Betwrong]

Fast food, to some extent, improves the economy of some less developed countries. 
Yes, it spoils health and efficiency, but on average, the state needs a person to work until a certain period, up to about 50-60 years, which eating fast food fully implies.

There are different kinds of fast food. For example, street food is also called fast food, but in many countries street food is nutritious and healthy meal that doesn't harm your health. However, if by "fast food" you mean McDonald's-like kind of food, I disagree with you. What is bad for people's health is also bad for the country's economy in the long run.

I agree that places where people can eat quickly quickly raise the economy.  It touches not only McDonald’s.  People want to pass the time on routine things because they find such cafes so as not to waste time.  But I think that this is not the only way.  I think that now it’s important to order one home on the Internet and not just food, it can be clothes or household appliances or something else.  People are very lazy creatures and want to reduce the number of their movements.

You just named a thing that mostly responsible for health problems in the modern world, and I bet it is not so obvious for many people that it damages any country's economy. Lack of physical activity wasn't such a problem a century ago, but in today's world it's a major one. And it's not only a problem of physical health, because, according to recent research, it can add to feelings of anxiety and depression, so even our mental health is affected. No economy could work if most people were sick.

[deisik]

You just named a thing that mostly responsible for health problems in the modern world, and I bet it is not so obvious for many people that it damages any country's economy. Lack of physical activity wasn't such a problem a century ago, but in today's world it's a major one

And what should we do with that?

And should we actually do anything? I agree with the assumption that the lack of physical activity is likely a major contributing factor to poor health later in life as I see my classmates getting weight and bellies because they don't walk but mostly prefer to drive. You can't force them to take care of their health until it is too late and the damage is done. But we can look at it as a kind of natural selection, so if you stay slim and fit (or slim fit), you may get a competitive advantage later on in life

[finaleshot2016]

If you're thinking about indirect losses then the best answer to your questions are disasters.
Some people aren't talking about it too much but the government spends all of the money just to fix the result of the disaster. Those disasters are happening due to irresponsible people on this earth. Multiple declines in revenue and the goods and services are the result of indirect losses.

[NavI_027]

If you're thinking about indirect losses then the best answer to your questions are disasters.
Some people aren't talking about it too much but the government spends all of the money just to fix the result of the disaster. Those disasters are happening due to irresponsible people on this earth. Multiple declines in revenue and the goods and services are the result of indirect losses.

So true especially that we are one of those few countries within the Circum Pacific Ring of Fire. Now, you just made me  remember the latest calamity our fellow Filipinos from Batanes are facing recently. Consecutive earthquakes shocks which 5.9 magnitude as the strongest caused many injured, few dead and damaged to property that reach up to P50M (around $1M). That's a huge loss not only to economy and lives but also historically saying because old heritage sites there was also damaged . 
Anyway, the less obvious things that deteriorate our country which I think is substandard infrastructure projects by the government and also corrupt officials (they remain secret unless they're exposed ).