Wealth isn't a zero-sum game. People in the first half of the 20th century didn't give up anything to develop electricity, automobiles, air travel, etc. But if

Wealth isn't a zero-sum game. People in the first half of the 20th century didn't give up anything to develop electricity, automobiles, air travel, etc. But if our current regulations and institutions existed back then, we'd have missed out on many technologies. Heck if aspirin were invented today, it's unlikely it would be approved by the FDA. Even if it was, it would be prescription-only. And if caffeine were invented today, the FDA would ban it and the DEA would find and arrest anyone manufacturing or using it.