What Cows Teach Us About Why the Economy Is Always a Mess
AKA moo-ving through the chaos of modern industry.
The Opening Smear
So I was doing my typical weekend farmers market stroll.
You know the vibe—fresh free-range eggs, artisanal candles, overpriced lollies that cost more than rent.
And I thought to myself, "Aren’t we all in a cost of living crisis?"
So why am I willingly paying $8.50 for a slice of cake that’s basically oats, dates, and good branding?
That’s when I remembered this business saying: the more money you make, the more upstream you are in the value chain.
I started thinking about all the protein bars I buy. The ingredients are basic. But the price? Not so much. Same with cake. I could make a whole cake for what I pay per slice. Yes, I’m paying for labour, convenience, artistry—but what else am I paying for?
That question led me down a rabbit hole of economic layers and value chains.
And the moment it all finally clicked? Was in an article about cows.
The Cow Analogy That Changed Everything
"Milking the cow? That’s the primary industry.
Turning that milk into cheese? That’s secondary.
Serving that cheese on a $9 oat cracker board at a rooftop bar? That’s tertiary."
And suddenly, it all made sense.
This is why your latte costs $8. This is why a salad can bankrupt you. We’re not just paying for the product—we’re paying for layers of processing, packaging, marketing, and vibe.
The Realisation
The further you move from the source, the weirder the pricing gets.
Raw milk = a few bucks.
Same milk, turned into cheese and slapped with minimalist packaging and rustic vibes = $14.
Coffee beans? Dirt cheap. But roast them, package them, and sell them in a shop with hanging plants and a neon sign? $7.50 a cup.
That’s because:
Primary = extracting resources (farming, mining)
Secondary = processing them (factories, manufacturing)
Tertiary = selling the experience (retail, branding, service)
Most of us exist in the tertiary layer. We buy, sell, and participate in a world that is wildly disconnected from the source.
And that’s fine—until it breaks.
Why the System Feels So Fragile
Because the further we get from the cow, the more assumptions we build into the system:
We assume supply chains will hold
We assume branding equals value
We assume the markup makes sense
But when one part breaks—like a milk shortage, a shipping delay, or a viral cheese board trend—everything ripples out. And suddenly? You're wondering why eggs cost as much as concert tickets.
This isn’t just about food. It’s about everything.
The Modern Economy in Layers
Let’s break it down:
Primary: Cows, crops, copper mines
Secondary: Factories, food processors, builders
Tertiary: Marketers, shops, influencers selling cheese knives
Quaternary: Data analytics, consultants, people creating cheese-board-planning apps
Each layer adds complexity. Value? Sometimes. But also confusion, markup, and fragility.
So What Even Is Value-Added?
Value-added is basically the glow-up tax.
It's the extra worth created when a business takes something basic and makes it... well, not basic. That could mean processing it (like turning milk into cheese), improving it (adding tech), or packaging it in a way that screams "$18 brunch" instead of "bulk ingredients."
According to Investopedia:
Value-added is the enhancement a company gives its product or service before offering the product to customers.
It’s how businesses differentiate themselves and justify higher price tags.
So when you’re paying $14 for a slice of almond flour carrot cake with edible flowers, you’re not just paying for ingredients. You’re paying for the story, the setting, the vibe—and everyone who touched it from cow to cafe.
And yes, that includes the cheese-board-planning app.
So What Does This Mean for You?
No, I’m not saying churn your own butter (unless that’s your thing).
But understanding where your money actually goes can help you:
Spot when something is overpriced fluff
Invest in businesses with real backbone
Appreciate the value of what’s actually being produced
Because not all value is visible.
And not all $14 cheeses are worth the hype.
The Final Peanut Butter Smear 🥜
The economy is messy. Layered. Moo-dy, even.
But once you learn to spot the difference between the cow and the charcuterie board, you start to see things clearly.
