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> A system like that, where the gains in per-capita production were the product of trade networks leveraging competitive advantage and the accumulation of agric
by thematrixturtle 5y ago
> A system like that, where the gains in per-capita production were the product of trade networks leveraging competitive advantage and the accumulation of agricultural capital (animals, but also potentially mills, olive presses, that sort of thing) could potentially be very fragile. Disruptions to trade or a failure to maintain that agricultural capital through a crisis could lead a society to fall back down to a lower equilibrium.
The parallels to what we're experiencing right now due to COVID affecting trade and supply chains are uncanny and worrisome.
- afthonos 5y agoI think COVID disruptions are recoverable. However, rising international tensions and a move away from globalization will at least result in a readjustment; managed poorly, it could lead to longer-term decreases in quality of life.
- UncleOxidant 5y agoI'm thinking that the de-globalization we're already experiencing is at least partly responsible for some of the inflation we're seeing (the pandemic itself is the big cause, but I suspect we would've started seeing inflation increase even if the pandemic hadn't happened). Inflation is already leading to some decreases in quality of life.