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Zombies Breathe New Life Into an Un-Dead Economy

By KSEE News
October 31, 2011 Updated Oct 31, 2011 at 6:49 PM PDT

Throughout history, zombies have stricken fear into the hearts of many. But instead of running from them, economists say maybe we should be investing in them.

Experts say the zombie fad pops up anytime we have a bad economy. Turns out they pump more life into the economy than they eat from it.

Zombies spend enough time dragging themselves through the mud.
They certainly don't need us in the media doing it for them. So, Patrick Quiring, founding member of the Fresno Zombie Society, is speaking out. "Just because you see a zombie doesn't mean you should kill it."

For years, zombies have tried to integrate into society, and to an extent, influence society, with music, and television shows like The Walking Dead. Sure, they might be scary... Or maybe it's just that they're misunderstood.

24-7 Wall Street estimates the undead generate over $5 billion in economic value. That includes totals from movies, TV and video games, and of course, Halloween costumes.

Local Halloween store manager Michael Esswein says zombie-themed costumes are easily the best-sellers. "People like to translate what they see on film into real life, but for a lot of it, they are cheap costumes."

Fresno state marketing professor William E. Rice says anytime the economy's been bad over the last century, the zombie fad finds new life. "You already feel like a zombie, don't have a job or much energy, so hey, might as well act like one since I already feel like one."

Since zombies may be a direct result of our tough times, and given they do contribute billions to the economy, Quiring and the Fresno Zombie Society are rushing to their defense. "Killing them would just be hurting us even more as a country. So you know, you see a zombie, just pass by, try not to attract attention, because he's helping you find a job."

But Quiring says it doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared in case of a zombie apocolypse. "The more you know about the zombie, the better chance you have. So we have the zombie survival guide by max brooks."

If you find you've become a zombie yourself, there's another book out there called, So Now You're A Zombie: A Handbook For The Newly Undead."

Reinvest in the economy and pick up a copy.

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