4 ms·
well yes, but DoD is basically an aberration in the labor market from an economics perspective. First you have to overcome the moral barrier problem to get peo
by ACow_Adonis 8y ago
well yes, but DoD is basically an aberration in the labor market from an economics perspective.
First you have to overcome the moral barrier problem to get people to work there these days (resulting in higher conditions for those who do)
Then you have the fact that its products are not easily measurable in terms of consumer utility or organisational profit/ utility, and its own budget/demand side is not based directly on consumer choice, competition or revenue.
DoD has a specific unique position in most of our cultures and market, and its conditions cannot and should not be extrapolated to other parts of economic life/debate unless you can also bring those other aspects of defense which make its particular environment possible (Which is generally neither possible nor desirable).
- souprock 8y agoThe moral barrier problem goes both ways. How could you possibly spend your days making addictive games and web trackers when you could instead support your country?
- ACow_Adonis 8y agoAbsolutely, for better or for worse, labor markets will effectively pay a "bonus" for immoral or contentious industries and employment, and discount wages and conditions for those which are virtuous or desirable. In short, being able to sleep at night is a form of non-cash benefit, and the fact that everyone wants to do it increases the supply of labor for those jobs. contentious or morally repugnant jobs are just the opposite, shrinking the available labor pool and inducing an intangible cost on normal people who take them on. Of course, if you're a psychopath or morally blind, you as an individual do not pay this psychological cost, and benefit from the increased wages and conditions deriving from the relative shortage of labor. There's a reason they call it the dismal science... :p