This solution to this "core paradox" is the idea of gains from trade - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gains_from_trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gains_from_t

This solution to this "core paradox" is the idea of gains from trade - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gains_from_trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gains_from_trade If everyone has the same capabilities and preferences, then the economy is a zero-sum game like you've described. In some fields, that's close to true, and those fields tend to be low-margin commodities.