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> The company wouldn't employ you if you weren't providing them more than you cost them. This is basic micro economics: both parties are better off after the e

> The company wouldn't employ you if you weren't providing them more than you cost them. This is basic micro economics: both parties are better off after the exchange. It’s not zero sum. Or at least doesn’t have to be. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-microeconomics/chapter/comparative-advantage-and-the-gains-from-trade/ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-microeconomics/chapter/...

BurningFrog 4y ago
Also, this is how wealth is created!
smeej 4y ago
I think the mass exodus of employees is proving that they were not ending up better off, or at least not nearly to the extent their employers were. That's precisely the point. IF both parties were actually better off, people wouldn't leave and stay gone. They might strike out, thinking the grass was greener, but they'd be back in short order. That they're leaving and staying gone shows that the reality wasn't living up to the theory.
- Jensson 4y ago
  Them staying home is showing that it is a reality. If they went to work even when it was a shit deal then that would show the theory didn't hold, but the fact that as the job gets worse fewer want to do it shows the theory works.
  - smeej 4y ago
    Oh I do think the theory is valid. It's currently cobfirming that the pre-covid reality of work wasn't living up to the balance in the theory where everybody ends up better off.
- cutenewt 4y ago
  That's overreading the situation. Employees are exhausted and their employers were only one part of the equation. COVID and other personal issues are the others. Thanks to healthy savings accounts, many people could afford to quit their jobs. Quitting wasn't 100% the employer's fault.
  - smeej 4y ago
    Money isn't the only measure of value either, though. If they thought they were ending up better off on the whole, they would come back. They've clearly concluded they're better off now than before, across whatever factors matter to them, so again, the reality wasn't living up to the theory.
- compiler-guy 4y ago
  Yes of course: when the exchange doesn't make you better off, you don't make the trade. And the Great Resignation is a sign that plenty of workers are looking for better exchanges than they had been getting. That changes nothing about my point though--if your employer was getting exactly the value they were paying you, they would be indifferent to keeping you employed. And vice-versa.

BurningFrog 4y ago

Also, this is how wealth is created!

smeej 4y ago

I think the mass exodus of employees is proving that they were not ending up better off, or at least not nearly to the extent their employers were. That's precisely the point. IF both parties were actually better off, people wouldn't leave and stay gone. They might strike out, thinking the grass was greener, but they'd be back in short order. That they're leaving and staying gone shows that the reality wasn't living up to the theory.

Jensson 4y ago
Them staying home is showing that it is a reality. If they went to work even when it was a shit deal then that would show the theory didn't hold, but the fact that as the job gets worse fewer want to do it shows the theory works.
- smeej 4y ago
  Oh I do think the theory is valid. It's currently cobfirming that the pre-covid reality of work wasn't living up to the balance in the theory where everybody ends up better off.
cutenewt 4y ago
That's overreading the situation. Employees are exhausted and their employers were only one part of the equation. COVID and other personal issues are the others. Thanks to healthy savings accounts, many people could afford to quit their jobs. Quitting wasn't 100% the employer's fault.
- smeej 4y ago
  Money isn't the only measure of value either, though. If they thought they were ending up better off on the whole, they would come back. They've clearly concluded they're better off now than before, across whatever factors matter to them, so again, the reality wasn't living up to the theory.
compiler-guy 4y ago
Yes of course: when the exchange doesn't make you better off, you don't make the trade. And the Great Resignation is a sign that plenty of workers are looking for better exchanges than they had been getting. That changes nothing about my point though--if your employer was getting exactly the value they were paying you, they would be indifferent to keeping you employed. And vice-versa.