The author reveals how the political operatives of the global capitalists have shrewdly employed austerity policies a little differently in various countries based on considerations of political consequences. It really all boils down to the timing of austerity policies: brutal and immediate in less consequential countries (e.g., Greece, Latvia, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal) and delayed and more gradual in the more powerful countries. The end result is likely to be the same: workers will be sacrificed to pay for the gambling sins of the rich.
During the first phase of the world economic crisis (2007-2009), the governments of the countries most affected by the crisis, starting with the United States, have taken strong measures [to lessen the immediate effects], drawing upon lessons of the first months following the Wall Street crash in October 1929. Back then, the lack of State intervention to support both the financial system and demand led to very grave consequences in terms of recession and bankruptcy, then to political and social radicalisation. (my emphasis)
