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A steady state economy will never, ever happen. We'll sooner extinguish our planet. The reason is simple: technological progress is a national security matter.
by 3pt14159 10y ago
A steady state economy will never, ever happen. We'll sooner extinguish our planet. The reason is simple: technological progress is a national security matter. It can't be stopped. Even coordinated treatise would be subverted. With technological progress more and more output for the same amount of input is possible.
Now you could argue for a steady state population. Or at least for a period of time where we have a steady state population (before starships are prevalent) and I could start to see that happening, but as long as there is intelligence and peace the economy will continue to grow.
- BatFastard 10y agoKnowledge will most likely grow, but with a steady population the only true GDP growth can come from moving people out of poverty and into the higher income brackets. Once everyone is there, what real growth is there?
- snowwrestler 10y agoEven higher income brackets? I don't know what you mean by "true" GDP growth. It feels like you're making some non-standard distinction but not explaining it.
- nradov 10y agoIn a knowledge based economy there is no upper limit on income. Theoretically it could continue growing indefinitely even with a stable population.