I think it's premature to describe it as the foreseeable future where we max out the capabilities of microcomputers, machinery and optimise the distribution of

I think it's premature to describe it as the foreseeable future where we max out the capabilities of microcomputers, machinery and optimise the distribution of all the world's resources to ensure there is absolutely nothing that couldn't be improved by using different types or numbers of machines or better computer programs or passing control to a different owner or simply mopping up the compounding gains from having more machinery and algorithms in production. Sure, in a world where we've perfected everything. GDP growth will cease to be a viable goal (and probably we'll all be too well fed and entertained to care). But until we reach the point of using all our resources optimally, it's reasonable to assume expansion and better allocation of production is a sensible goal, and to achieve it economists are arguing against more short-term, mutable obstacles like human rules. It's a bit like the probable existence of hard physical limits to human lifespan doesn't invalidate the field of medicine. Or indeed, the probability that we're not smarter than twenty years ago doesn't invalidate the field of computer science's attempts to find more efficient ways of handling data,