[extropy-chat] The end of work, the leisure society, and automation

[Robin Hanson]

On 12/15/2003 -0800, Spike wrote:
> > >... The profitability of a worker goes up
> > >as that worker spends more time at the office,
> > >for a lot of reasons....Its goooood for you,
> > >its good for all of us...
> >
> > This is a confused description of labor economics...
>
>Robin, clearly I am no professor of economics.  {8-]
>This has caused me to ponder on what a job does for
>us, and it is far more than just a paycheck.  A good
>9 to 5 provides us with a social network, contact
>with interesting people, ... We *need* to work at
>something. ... I really *like* my job. ...

I don't disagree with this.  And in the spirit of the
season let us think for a moment of the many people
who don't have jobs they love - they really are poor.



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