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> if everyone would see it as an investment. From a rational perspective a baby born today might never, ever pay back any investment of this sort. His or her p

> if everyone would see it as an investment. From a rational perspective a baby born today might never, ever pay back any investment of this sort. His or her potential employment opportunities may very well be eaten up by automation. If fact, this is most likely the case 20-30 years from now as AI and robotics continue to advance in some/many industries. Instead, we should be seeing all humans as worthwhile creatures and the state as a method for us to live compassionate lives. Policies like guaranteed incomes are the saner solution here because they don't depend on seeing people as investments, often investments they can't pay off. Not to mention the sick, disabled, elderly, etc who can never ever pay off these hypothetical investments.

pc86 10y ago
The economic fate of a random baby born in a developed country is absolutely not "most likely" nil due to automation. I think you are drastically overestimating the rate and scope of AI and robotics.
- drzaiusapelord 10y ago
  I'm skeptical we'll need as many workers for $threatened_industries in 2040-2050. I think its a little unrealistic to think we can keep up this ponzi scheme of employment as-is. Even now a great deal of unemployment is kept in check by various tax incentives to corporations paid for by taxpayers. Mary is paying Bob to employ Jane. That's not very sustainable in general, let alone with automation keeps chipping away at jobs. I believe worklife in 2050 is going to be very different today. The same way my dad worked 10-12 hour days normally and I do 7.5 with Friday 'work from home' which is almost a day off.
nabla9 10y ago
Guaranteed income schemes (basic income, negative income tax) are economically sound policies because the makes it possible for low productivity workers to contribute without incentive traps. Politically they are relatively stable because everyone gets the same treatment and interests are aligned. Appeal to humanity is not sound political approach to get things done. If the only argument is idealistic appeal humanity, poor will get only scraps. We should use mechanism design (reverse game theory) to design society where the interests of the majority are tied into the interests of the poor. We here in the Nordic countries reduce poverty effectively using wealth transfers. The reason for this is not better morals or humanity. Instead we have created a wealth transfer system were majority of benefits go to the middle class and poverty is reduced because poor are part of the same system. When every kid below 10 is given certain amount of money, not just the poor, it becomes politically hard to cut that money because majority of people like free money.

pc86 10y ago

The economic fate of a random baby born in a developed country is absolutely not "most likely" nil due to automation. I think you are drastically overestimating the rate and scope of AI and robotics.

drzaiusapelord 10y ago
I'm skeptical we'll need as many workers for $threatened_industries in 2040-2050. I think its a little unrealistic to think we can keep up this ponzi scheme of employment as-is. Even now a great deal of unemployment is kept in check by various tax incentives to corporations paid for by taxpayers. Mary is paying Bob to employ Jane. That's not very sustainable in general, let alone with automation keeps chipping away at jobs. I believe worklife in 2050 is going to be very different today. The same way my dad worked 10-12 hour days normally and I do 7.5 with Friday 'work from home' which is almost a day off.

nabla9 10y ago

Guaranteed income schemes (basic income, negative income tax) are economically sound policies because the makes it possible for low productivity workers to contribute without incentive traps. Politically they are relatively stable because everyone gets the same treatment and interests are aligned. Appeal to humanity is not sound political approach to get things done. If the only argument is idealistic appeal humanity, poor will get only scraps. We should use mechanism design (reverse game theory) to design society where the interests of the majority are tied into the interests of the poor. We here in the Nordic countries reduce poverty effectively using wealth transfers. The reason for this is not better morals or humanity. Instead we have created a wealth transfer system were majority of benefits go to the middle class and poverty is reduced because poor are part of the same system. When every kid below 10 is given certain amount of money, not just the poor, it becomes politically hard to cut that money because majority of people like free money.