An economist will tell you that a depression is a decrease in demand. Ok, were in a depression, so how do we increase demand? If your a car company you agree to buy the car back if the individual loses their job. The motivation behind that strategy is that if the main concern people have about making a large purchase is whether they can make the payments, address that concern and you should increase demand.
Restaurants have a similar issue in that customers are afraid of loseing their source of income so they are not spending discretionary income as a hedge. Some restaurants in acts of altrusim are offering the unemployed a complimentary meal.
How about using the car company model instead. If a customers loses their job within a month of eating at your restaurant, you will refund the cost of the meal! Try it
