Comment on Open thread, Mar. 14 - Mar. 20, 2016

Tue, 15 Mar 2016 08:55:34 GMT

The disadvantages are a net loss of production compared to the current systems

The words "loss of production" are too abstract, so it feels like it is no big deal. But it depends on what specifically it means. Maybe it's slower internet connection, fewer computer games, and more expensive Coca Cola. Or maybe it's higher mortality in hospitals, higher retirement age, and more poverty.

I'm saying this because I think people usually only imagine the former, but in real life it's more likely to be both.

I would be fine with giving unproductive persons incentives so they become productive.

If you give incentives to unproductive people to become productive, but you don't give incentives to productive people to remain productive, the winning strategy for people is to have swings of productivity.

Generally, whenever you have a cool idea that would work well for the current situation, you should think about how the situation will change when people start adapting to the new rules and optimizing for them. Because sooner or later someone will.

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