When Eric Janzen sent me a  note announcing his new book, “The Postcatastrophe Economy”, I was intrigued.   I know Eric not only as a VC and startup company CEO, but also as one of the leading economic and market forecasters through his site iTulip. Eric had accurately predicted the market crash of 2008 and as a result has received widespread attention and acclaim.  .

To me the most important thing as a venture-backed  company executive was that Eric is someone to pay close  attention to.  His new book is a must-read for any  business manager navigating the tricky  confluence of risk management and business  forecasting.

I picked out a few key points from the book that I think are  particularly important to us as we go into business  planning for 2011. Here they are:

• The FIRE - Finance, Insurance, Real Estate -industries continue to dominate and shape the economy with potentially dire consequences.
• Oil will again become a key issue.
• Short term stock market performance continues to mask the negative effects of the massive government debt overhang.
• One (good) way out is for the economy to build around the TECI – Transportation, Energy, Communication and Infrastructure.

Eric delivers a crisp and level headed analysis of where the economy is at.  But what I like best is how Eric shows how technology and innovation can play a key role in reshaping the economy for a more lasting recovery.