NationStates Jolt Archive

scarcity
1. insufficiency or shortness of supply; dearth.
2. rarity; infrequency.

As someone who is quite involved with economics, I have never really understood what people mean when they talk about a "post-scarcity economy". It is quite a popular term though with the radical left side of the spectrum.

I mean, very simply, if there was no more scarcity, if there was an infinite amount of everything to consume and use, all prices would have to be zero.

That is clearly not the case.

So what exactly is the post-scarcity economy? Is it even possible?

I would like to say that just because something is not scarce it does not follow that it exists in infinite amounts.
Try looking up "sufficiency".

In the land of shits and giggles, yes.

I would like to say that just because something is not scarce it does not follow that it exists in infinite amounts.
Try looking up "sufficiency".

Nonetheless, our system of pricing items would completely break down -- if there is enough of everything to go around (that is, if every item a consumer wants is available) our modern, capitalistic economic system would be rendered pointless. It exists for the purpose of allocating scarce goods in the best way possible. If everyone can get everything, what's the point?

I would like to say that just because something is not scarce it does not follow that it exists in infinite amounts.
Try looking up "sufficiency".
As far as pricing and consumption are concerned, the two words are interchangable.

In distant future, when they start mining astroids and other planets (raw-materials) and when robots/automated machines process them, and when we'll have cheap efficient energy to fuel all these, post-scarcity (mostly) will be established, IMO. That'd be the end of capitalism so no need for 0$ signs.

Nonetheless, our system of pricing items would completely break down -- if there is enough of everything to go around (that is, if every item a consumer wants is available) our modern, capitalistic economic system would be rendered pointless. It exists for the purpose of allocating scarce goods in the best way possible. If everyone can get everything, what's the point?

well exactly :rolleyes:

I mean, very simply, if there was no more scarcity, if there was an infinite amount of everything to consume and use, all prices would have to be zero.

scarce /= finite except in crazy econo-land

In distant future, when they start mining astroids and other planets (raw-materials) and when robots/automated machines process them, and when we'll have cheap efficient energy to fuel all these, post-scarcity (mostly) will be established, IMO. That'd be the end of capitalism so no need for 0$ signs.

Scarcity also accounts for the cost of production or acquisition.

If there is any significant hindrance to free access, then we can assume scarcity.

scarce /= finite except in crazy econo-land

It does require that there be an abundance of a good or resource without a need of labor investment to acquire.

Scarcity also accounts for the cost of production or acquisition.

If there is any significant hindrance to free access, then we can assume scarcity.

Robots wont get paid, energy will be cheap, raw meterial will be abundant. Most prices should be close to 0.

Robots wont get paid, energy will be cheap, raw meterial will be abundant. Most prices should be close to 0.

You're not gonna pay the robots?
:eek:
Our overlords shall hear about this...
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pennck/grabs/robotdevilbig.jpg

Robots wont get paid, energy will be cheap, raw meterial will be abundant. Most prices should be close to 0.

Rather large assumptions, but I am guessing that demand for these resources will rise to meet the supply, and maintain a level of scarcity.

After all, it will take a lot of cheap energy and raw material to build and operate these space robots.

Rather large assumptions, but I am guessing that demand for these resources will rise to meet the supply, and maintain a level of scarcity.

After all, it will take a lot of cheap energy and raw material to build and operate these space robots.

Please, I'm talking about distant future. I'm sure they can come up with safe clean equivelant of nuclear fission and some space travel. And robots neednt be on space to manufacture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_scarcity

A post-scarcity economy is a hypothetical form of economy or society, often explored in science fiction, in which valuable things such as goods, services and information are free or practically free, due to an abundance of the fundamental resources - material, energy and intelligence (whether biological or machine based) - and usually also due to an entirely automated system of converting raw materials into finished goods, so that making copies of physical goods such as electronics becomes nearly as easy as making copies of software files is today. A market economy and command economy may be unnecessary post-scarcity, though a gift economy may take their place.

Please, I'm talking about distant future. I'm sure they can come up with safe clean equivelant of nuclear fission and some space travel. And robots neednt be on space to manufacture.

Where are they to get these abundant resources?

Where are they to get these abundant resources?

As I said b4 just in last page, astroids and other planets.

As I said b4 just in last page, astroids and other planets.

Then they need space robots for that and to deal with land constraints on our beautiful blue ball.

Then they need space robots for that and to deal with land constraints on our beautiful blue ball.

Maybe Mars would be the industrial region of Earth or maybe moon.

Maybe Mars would be the industrial region of Earth or maybe moon.
Heh, imagine an entire portion of the planet transformed into The Works (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Works) district from Star Wars.

Maybe Mars would be the industrial region of Earth or maybe moon.

To keep with the science fiction theme here, you are following a fallacy that (I think) Arthur C. Clarke touched on with an anecdote in a short story I can't remember the title (or general plot) of:

The main character talked of a man who had been caught in the rain but was managing to stay dry under the cover of a tree. The man wasn't worried about getting wet, because, as soon as the tree he was under would be soaked, he would sprint to another tree which was not yet allowing rain through.

The man obviously still had reason to worry about getting wet, as he would eventually run out of trees.