• Rom [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 months ago

      Two economists are walking in a forest when they come across a pile of shit.

      The first economist says to the other “I’ll pay you $100 to eat that pile of shit.” The second economist takes the $100 and eats the pile of shit.

      They continue walking until they come across a second pile of shit. The second economist turns to the first and says “I’ll pay you $100 to eat that pile of shit.” The first economist takes the $100 and eats a pile of shit.

      Walking a little more, the first economist looks at the second and says, “You know, I gave you $100 to eat shit, then you gave me back the same $100 to eat shit. I can’t help but feel like we both just ate shit for nothing.”

      “That’s not true”, responded the second economist. “We increased the GDP by $200!”

  • sodium_nitride [she/her, any]@hexbear.net
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    3 months ago

    Ok, I mean, to be fair.

    This is exactly how money is supposed to circulate in a perfect market economy. Businesses aren’t supposed to accumulate deposits. They are supposed to circulate them for the next production period.

    • 0__0 [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      3 months ago

      Yeah, for real goods in the end. Not for some supposed “gains” in the future when it comes to the AI improving productivity in any way.