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Continuing economic growth does not require infinite resources, this is a common but basic fallacy. Economic growth, as measured by the total value of produced products and services, does not necessarily imply more products being produced. One basic reason is that a large, and growing, part of the economy is in services rather than production of material goods. However, even in a purely manufacturing based economy, an increase in the total value of goods produced does not need to imply an increase in resource used. The increase in value can, and in modern economy usually does, originate from the increased in quality of the goods produced from the same resources. In fact, in some cases the increase in value comes precisely from a decrease in the needed resources, or at least goes together with such a decrease.
Economic growth doesn't necessarily mean using more resources. It could also mean using less because of increased efficiency or because the resource has been replaced entirely by something better.
People used whale oil for lighting and motors, but because that is very limited, we found a better solution. Now we use electric lighting and kerosene. Whale oil has become irrelevant, because it is too scarce.
But whale oil investors expected that market to continue indefinitely. Just as today's petrodollar investors expect oil to continue indefinitely. There are few that see the future and grasp the need to move to solar and nuclear.
[+]DrShitlord1 point3 points4 points
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[–]DrShitlord1 point
3 points
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(edited ago)
About 15 years ago, I explained to a physicist that infinite economic growth in a finite world is mathematically impossible. He didn't understand. I hope he has grown since then, exponentially.
Because people are lazy and stupid. Once you've made money in lemonade it's hard to see the extinction lemon trees. They'll be there, they always were...
Maybe because they tend to portray their business model in a fantastical type manner which is rarely any type of reflection of reality.
In other words, the executives are going to profit like mother fuckers from the business no matter what so they will say and do anything to keep the business going for even a moment longer as it insures they are still receiving exorbitant salaries.
Really, economics or whatever aside, "organizations" are still run by "people". These people want simple things like "bonuses" and "promotions". Which means that these same people need to have growth for their organization, which is why they strive for it.
Nobody wants to think about the details of how this will all end. The end is sometime in the future and what's important for the future is to get yours today so you'll be ready. Which brings you back to bonuses and promotions with a closed loop.
So there you go: strive today as hard as possible and don't waste time on stupid explanations.
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[–] 0x5f3759df 1 point 5 points 6 points (+6|-1) ago
Continuing economic growth does not require infinite resources, this is a common but basic fallacy. Economic growth, as measured by the total value of produced products and services, does not necessarily imply more products being produced. One basic reason is that a large, and growing, part of the economy is in services rather than production of material goods. However, even in a purely manufacturing based economy, an increase in the total value of goods produced does not need to imply an increase in resource used. The increase in value can, and in modern economy usually does, originate from the increased in quality of the goods produced from the same resources. In fact, in some cases the increase in value comes precisely from a decrease in the needed resources, or at least goes together with such a decrease.
[–] bigslob 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
But it all comes to a point does it not? You can only "trim off so much fat" before the product cannot be fine tuned any more?
[–] 0x5f3759df ago
Not necessarily. There are always things that can still be improved in quality.
[–] 6364157? 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
Because economics is more of a soft science that relies on a lot of assumptions about human behaviour that don't reflect reality.
[–] blastar 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Economic growth doesn't necessarily mean using more resources. It could also mean using less because of increased efficiency or because the resource has been replaced entirely by something better.
People used whale oil for lighting and motors, but because that is very limited, we found a better solution. Now we use electric lighting and kerosene. Whale oil has become irrelevant, because it is too scarce.
[–] MrPim 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
But whale oil investors expected that market to continue indefinitely. Just as today's petrodollar investors expect oil to continue indefinitely. There are few that see the future and grasp the need to move to solar and nuclear.
[–] DrShitlord 1 point 3 points 4 points (+4|-1) ago (edited ago)
About 15 years ago, I explained to a physicist that infinite economic growth in a finite world is mathematically impossible. He didn't understand. I hope he has grown since then, exponentially.
[–] MrPim 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Because people are lazy and stupid. Once you've made money in lemonade it's hard to see the extinction lemon trees. They'll be there, they always were...
[–] InfidelAl ago
If only it was possible to plant more!
[–] MaxDragon 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Maybe because they tend to portray their business model in a fantastical type manner which is rarely any type of reflection of reality.
In other words, the executives are going to profit like mother fuckers from the business no matter what so they will say and do anything to keep the business going for even a moment longer as it insures they are still receiving exorbitant salaries.
[–] tchouk 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Really, economics or whatever aside, "organizations" are still run by "people". These people want simple things like "bonuses" and "promotions". Which means that these same people need to have growth for their organization, which is why they strive for it.
Nobody wants to think about the details of how this will all end. The end is sometime in the future and what's important for the future is to get yours today so you'll be ready. Which brings you back to bonuses and promotions with a closed loop.
So there you go: strive today as hard as possible and don't waste time on stupid explanations.
[–] daskapitalist ago
Because you better either get busy livin', or get busy dyin'. Applies to organizationa too.