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Robotic lawnmower definitely produces economic value for its manufacturer (probably in China) and designer (might be in China as well actually), but its effect
by oytis 5y ago
Robotic lawnmower definitely produces economic value for its manufacturer (probably in China) and designer (might be in China as well actually), but its effect on Danish economy is not that simple. It might actually harm it by taking a job from a person who did it before resulting in less taxes being paid.
- imtringued 5y agoThat's only a problem when savings exceed investment. In that case interest rates must simply drop until savings and investment are in balance again. Why? Because the person who bought the lawn mower started saving the money he would usually spend on a gardener. It simply means saving is too profitable.
- realityking 5y agoMy grasp on economics is thin but I believe this is not true. Let's assume mowing the lawn by a a service cost $200 in capital investment over 10 years and 200$/year in labor while the robot cost $1000 capital investment also over 10 years. Then you increased the amount of capital going likely abroad by 800$ and freed up 2000$ of labor cost. That means you have 1200$ freed up in investments but lost $2000 in local economic activity. In short, the capital requirements generally go up with automation in the economic benefit is more often abroad (whether that's Germany or China) This completely ignores many migrant workers sending money home.