4 ms·

I'm surrounded by people who produce lots of things, researchers, writers, developers, teachers, ... While money matters, I'm pretty sure it's secondary in thei

by Yoric 4y ago

I'm surrounded by people who produce lots of things, researchers, writers, developers, teachers, ... While money matters, I'm pretty sure it's secondary in their lives. So, not convinced about the "motivation" angle. Maybe it's a US thing?

Gustomaximus 4y ago
I think it depends what you mean by 'money matters' Some people clearly like consumption. Many are probably like me where income has gone up reasonably career progression but largely live the same lifestyle as where comfortable many years back. Any increasing excess goes onto the mortgage and savings type deal. For me I'm happy wearing whatever clothes vs designer and actually like driving an older/cheaper car for zero care factor type thing and have few things I wish to splurge on. At the same time money really matters as I never want to think about it. Once over a threshold it's low on my motivation and I'd generally choose more interesting work. Below the threshold I will become very motivated with it.
heywhatupboys 4y ago
> Maybe it's a US thing? no. communism, wherever introduced, has never worked
- PhasmaFelis 4y ago
  Huh? No one said anything about communism.
  - heywhatupboys 3y ago
    he said that only in the US would work be disincentivized by high taxation. That is not the case.
    - Yoric 3y ago
      Well, I was talking of "producing", not "work". At least in my mind, they're really not the same. Also, I'm sure that I did not mention communism. I do believe that the US has a very unique manner of looking at money, though. By the way, can you think of a country in which taxation is so high that work is disincentivized?
      - heywhatupboys 3y ago
        > By the way, can you think of a country in which taxation is so high that work is disincentivized? Denmark, this is a very common topic here with many people like doctors saying so
        Yoric 3y ago
        Interesting. I don't know much about Denmark, so I can't comment.
      - Shocka1 3y ago
        The US is a melting pot of different philosophies, including the way they treat money. Not only do they have people who worship money, they have people that don't worship money and also everything in between, including those who hate and love taxes. I'm not so sure if we can classify a whole country into one stereotype, and to do so would most definitely be small and close-minded thinking.
    - PhasmaFelis 3y ago
      That still has no visible connection to communism, unless you define "communism" as "high tax rates." I am also curious to hear of any real-world countries where people choose not to work because taxes are too high.
treeman79 4y ago
Ask them all to work for minimum wage or less in those industries. You may get a few zealots they don’t care. Most will switch careers quickly. My wife is a teacher, and pay is a huge concern for every single one, except for the handful that are rich, and just doing it for the fun of it. I would highly recommend “basic economics” by Thomas Sowell. Will explain how profit motivation leads to people producing more with fewer resources. (efficiency) vs anything else that leads to less efficient use of resources.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- Yoric 3y ago
  > Ask them all to work for minimum wage or less in those industries. You're introducing an interesting counterpoint but I feel that it's not the question I was attempting to respond to. I was commenting on the matter of huge taxes demotivating everyone from creating anything. I am assuming that any more or less reasonable taxation would either decrease the revenue of everyone or decrease the revenue of most of the members of the wealthier N% of the population (as usual, the richest will somehow manage to avoid most taxes). Do you believe that such a scheme would make your wife leave her career for something less creative/generally useful? > I would highly recommend “basic economics” by Thomas Sowell. Adding to my looong list of books to read, thanks!

by Yoric 4y ago

Gustomaximus 4y ago

I think it depends what you mean by 'money matters' Some people clearly like consumption. Many are probably like me where income has gone up reasonably career progression but largely live the same lifestyle as where comfortable many years back. Any increasing excess goes onto the mortgage and savings type deal. For me I'm happy wearing whatever clothes vs designer and actually like driving an older/cheaper car for zero care factor type thing and have few things I wish to splurge on. At the same time money really matters as I never want to think about it. Once over a threshold it's low on my motivation and I'd generally choose more interesting work. Below the threshold I will become very motivated with it.

heywhatupboys 4y ago

> Maybe it's a US thing? no. communism, wherever introduced, has never worked

PhasmaFelis 4y ago
Huh? No one said anything about communism.
- heywhatupboys 3y ago
  he said that only in the US would work be disincentivized by high taxation. That is not the case.
  - Yoric 3y ago
    Well, I was talking of "producing", not "work". At least in my mind, they're really not the same. Also, I'm sure that I did not mention communism. I do believe that the US has a very unique manner of looking at money, though. By the way, can you think of a country in which taxation is so high that work is disincentivized?
    - heywhatupboys 3y ago
      > By the way, can you think of a country in which taxation is so high that work is disincentivized? Denmark, this is a very common topic here with many people like doctors saying so
      - Yoric 3y ago
        Interesting. I don't know much about Denmark, so I can't comment.
    - Shocka1 3y ago
      The US is a melting pot of different philosophies, including the way they treat money. Not only do they have people who worship money, they have people that don't worship money and also everything in between, including those who hate and love taxes. I'm not so sure if we can classify a whole country into one stereotype, and to do so would most definitely be small and close-minded thinking.
  - PhasmaFelis 3y ago
    That still has no visible connection to communism, unless you define "communism" as "high tax rates." I am also curious to hear of any real-world countries where people choose not to work because taxes are too high.

treeman79 4y ago

Ask them all to work for minimum wage or less in those industries. You may get a few zealots they don’t care. Most will switch careers quickly. My wife is a teacher, and pay is a huge concern for every single one, except for the handful that are rich, and just doing it for the fun of it. I would highly recommend “basic economics” by Thomas Sowell. Will explain how profit motivation leads to people producing more with fewer resources. (efficiency) vs anything else that leads to less efficient use of resources.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
Yoric 3y ago
> Ask them all to work for minimum wage or less in those industries. You're introducing an interesting counterpoint but I feel that it's not the question I was attempting to respond to. I was commenting on the matter of huge taxes demotivating everyone from creating anything. I am assuming that any more or less reasonable taxation would either decrease the revenue of everyone or decrease the revenue of most of the members of the wealthier N% of the population (as usual, the richest will somehow manage to avoid most taxes). Do you believe that such a scheme would make your wife leave her career for something less creative/generally useful? > I would highly recommend “basic economics” by Thomas Sowell. Adding to my looong list of books to read, thanks!