which the roads have taken up all the space - everything else has been 
blotted out. You drive and drive and drive and you don't get anywhere. 
This is not a prediction, however. Economists are generally not very good 
at predictions, because economics always turns round and round in 
circles, whereas history produces all the time new situations. Only my 
old guru Kalecki was famous for making correct predictions, also when he 
was joking. He might suggest in a satyrical mood some incredible 
absurdity, earning due laughter, and after a while the absurd thing did 
actually happen. Since this happened more than once, Kalecki finally said 
he would henceforth have to refrain from making jokes. 
I wish I would have his capacity for making jokes even at the risk of 
increasing the mumber of absurdities in this world which has already a 
full measure of them. However, I do not have this or any other of his 
capacities. I am well aware of my limitations. In fact I think of myself 
and my decrepit old age only as an excuse for having this meeting with a 
number of guests who are not only excellent economists but also very nice 
people. I hope this will not be without lasting contacts and stimuli. 
I hope our guests will pass the few days in a pleasant way and bear away 
a friendly recollection of the occasion.