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> by taking them away from other companies or other industries > So that is sometimes an option for certain employers, but not for an entire industry. It is n
by sheepmullet 8y ago
> by taking them away from other companies or other industries
> So that is sometimes an option for certain employers, but not for an entire industry.
It is not so simple. Higher wages drives automation which then reduces the need for labor.
For example in my home country it is still common to have a maid because it’s so cheap - but because of this there is much less household automation.
On the other hand in the US with my robo-vacuum, dishwasher, microwave, and weekly meal delivery it takes me under 1 hour a week to do the cooking and cleaning.
- bayesian_horse 8y agoThe problem with that argument, as with many others, is that it is focusing on a small part of the entire system, while ignoring the reactions of other parts. In this case the driving factor for automation is the same as the driving factor for higher wages: The prospect of higher profits through more work getting done. A wage increase is only possible when it increases profits over the alternative, including automation. Automation will only increase if that is more profitable than the alternative, including higher automation.