[PeterStuer]

I don't get how in a world where about 10% of the work goes into actually producing nescessities, and all the rest goes into 'make work' or even worse producing things that are health hazards or nearly straight to landfill junk, we still think we need to 'work more/longer/harder'!

Our 'productivity' has gone up by at least 2% per year. If you understand compounding you realize how significant that impact is. We're in front of a next generation work automation tsunami. The notion that 'working longer' is 'needed' as a consequence of anything besides a completely failed and derailed socio-economic model is absurd.

[skookumchuck]

The point of the article is there isn't enough surplus in the economy to pay these people for 40 years of retirement doing nothing.

[crdoconnor]

It's funny. When people ask "where are the jobs?" the 1% respond "there's no work to do any more. robots are doing it all. automation means we're just too damn productive".

So, presumably there is a surplus.

Except no.

When people ask "where is the money?" the 1% respond "not enough money. Not enough surplus. You need to work until you are 68 now".

This contradiction is, oddly enough, rarely addressed.

Perhaps the problem isn't not enough work or not enough money. Perhaps they are both scapegoats for the real problem: wealth inequality driven by (among other things), tax evasion.

[PeterStuer]

My point was there is masses of surplus, even too much, and it is just a distribution/allocation problem.

[conanbatt]

Yes, too much of it is going to pensions, for example.

[conanbatt]

> The notion that 'working longer' is 'needed' as a consequence of anything besides a completely failed and derailed socio-economic model is absurd.

Yes and no. I used to have this same intuition but think that people today, even on the low bracket, have a better life than the previous generations mid-wealthy had. Think how much an iphone would be worth in 1950, and think how many people have it today. It is definitely a great measure of wealth. Look at the internet that has made entertainment virtually free: if you have an internet connection there is no shortage of content ever. And we still produce more content! Who works to produce more content if you could not watch all of youtube right now!

We will turn to idleness only when the benefits we get by further work are less than the value of it. When auto-piloted airplanes with auto-drilled oil and auto-cooks and auto-hotels will make everyone travel a lot more and work less, but maybe at that point we will want to work to get our seat to go to Mars, or the latest art exhibition, or the greatest meal, or better life for your kids.