While economists spend days trying to date the start and the end of a recession, ad gurus have simpler measures. JWT Worldwide President Michael Meadel says a “recession is a time when you need to re-think if you will need those five bags you had planned, or the second car, after all.” Talking about retaining talent in the high-attrition advertisment industry, he quipped, “The best way would be to chain them to their desks."