[AngryData]

So if I come up with a billion dollar invention, does the money just poof into existence? No, that money has to come from other peoples pocket and will no longer be spent on those other things if I sell and collect. Over long time spans no it isn't zero sum, but in anything time that isn't measured in many years, it most definitely is zero sum for all purposes. And since people can't just check out from the economy without losing money, the fact that the economy could be larger in 10 years doesn't make a damn bit of difference to someones right at this moment.

Monopoly isn't a zero sum game, and yet within every turn there is a maximum zero-sum amount of money available in play that can be utilized. And the fact that 5x more money might be on the board 20 turns later doesn't make a bit of difference in what I or anybody else can spend or earn during our turn right now.