The following is part one of my new ongoing series concerning economics history. It should be understood that "Grand" in this context should equate to the word "fake."
The Asian Financial Crisis officially began in the summer of 1997 when Thailand's currency suddenly collapsed. This single event began a chain of economic crises across the eastern Asian nations. Suddenly, countries from Japan to Indonesia underwent a severe economic downturn. Now, even a decade since the crisis began, many nations still feel the economic effects.
But what really began the crisis? Well, while some economists debate about the volatility of the Thai real estate market and the interconnected financial systems of the modern era, most economists agree the crisis began due to a sudden alteration in Godzilla attacks.
From the period of 1976 to 1989, only one known Godzilla attack occurred. The following chart ("Recorded Godzilla Attacks") helps to show this period, now referred to as "The Great Monster Moderation." During that time span, only one documentary concerning the monster -- The Return of Godzilla -- was made. The makers of the film conjectured that Godzillla's prolonged absence resulted from, in fact, the death of the "original Godzilla." This is typically called the "Three Godzilla Theory," and is widely accepted now.
Many economists and econocats believe that the period of absence also may in fact indicate Godzilla had clandestinely attacked other nations, most notably Thailand, in a sort of pre-crisis warm-up. Then, in 1989, Godzilla fought against the genetically mutated rose-monster, Biollante, (as documented in Godzilla vs. Biollante), destroying much of Tokyo in the process. The renewed string of attacks eventually culminated during 1995 in what economists and historians alike refer to as Godzilla vs. Destroyah.
Wikipedia contains the definitive account of this pivotal, final battle:
"Destoroyah then attempts to escape, but the military shoots and blows off his wings. Destroyah slams down to ground and the force of the impact causes him to be shattered apart. Robbed of his vengeance, Godzilla beckons into the air, a living mass of hatred and power. As Godzilla reaches meltdown, and begins to die, the military fire him with ice beams to stop him from the destroying the planet and are successful. Godzilla's final moments of life are long, and strenuous as he is overcome with immense pain, with his flesh and body slowly melting away. The King of the Monsters gives one last faint roar before he becomes nothing more than a pile of melted flesh and ashes.
"The victory is a costly one however, for the radiation has made Tokyo an uninhabitable city. Suddenly, radiation levels begin to drop, and from within the
thinning smoke, is a revived and full grown Godzilla Junior, the new King of the Monsters."
"We now know that he [Godzilla Junior] avoided Tokyo because of his aversion to tamagotchi toys. However, current research and my most recent dreams have indicated that this new Godzilla had enrolled briefly into the West Tokyo Community College (WTCC), studying economics part time. The only passing grades he received were in 'Introduction to Business Writing' -- an easy class in which anyone with radioactive breath or razor sharp teeth can pass -- and 'Starting Financial Crises in Eastern Asia: An Introduction to City Destroying.'
"WTCC currently denies ever admitting Godzilla [Junior] into the school, but I am a cat. I can see their thoughts. And I can eat their dreams. Additionally, I am sure I saw him in one of my 'Box Jumping' classes."
