[extropy-chat] Social Implications of Nanotech

[Robin Hanson]

On 11/16/2003, Dan Clemmensen wrote:
>>>I think that the cost of energy is a crucial marginal cost. It is almost 
>>>certainly more important than the marginal marketing cost, unless I 
>>>misunderstand the term "marketing" as used in economics. Mitigating 
>>>against this is the fact that "radical MNT" may drive the marginal cost 
>>>of energy toward zero.  ...
>>
>>If you think the (marginal) cost of energy might go to zero, then unless 
>>you have a story about how the (marginal) cost of marketing goes to zero, 
>>I don't see how you can be confident that the cost of energy is the 
>>larger cost.
>
>That was my point. I'm sorry that I was not clear. You have not mentioned 
>energy at all. If you don't mention it earlier,  (going to zero) then I 
>fell that you should memtion it here.

I meant for energy to be included in "feedstocks".  I've reworded my 
abstract to be clear on that point.



Robin Hanson  rhanson at gmu.edu  http://hanson.gmu.edu
Assistant Professor of Economics, George Mason University
MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444
703-993-2326  FAX: 703-993-2323