| At least part of it is that we put the gains into increased complexity. For example, it used to be that you had a printed schedule on each tram, train and bus stop, changed twice a year (summer/winter schedules). Now we have electronic displays that display the time until the next tram or bus arrives in minutes. Just imagine the gigantic difference in infrastructure to support either of those options. My dad (East Germany, 1970s/80s) used to hand-write train schedules for one or two stations twice a year - and that was all. Now you need an entire server infrastructure, massive electronics, daily maintenance, software, etc. etc. Of course we gain something, but I think the difference in effort far outstrips the gains. Especially when trams and busses are mostly on time. We have also massively increased our human and business networks, both global and local. Speed and throughput requirements are up for almost everything, from just-in-time deliveries to communication. It seems either us humans ourselves, or our systems, immediately swallow all gains and put them back into increased complexity of the system(s). Related, this study headline from a few years ago: "Humans solve problems by adding complexity, even when it’s against our best interests" -- https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/16/bias-prob... I venture to guess that, in addition to most people's fascination with some form of "progress", another part of that is our capitalist financial and work system: Everybody has to do something that makes money. You just can't simplify away your own job. Well you can, but you would be stupid to do so. Competition is supposed to be the counter-force, but that does not seem to work all that well overall. |