Between automation (which is now hitting not just manufacturing but also starting to crest into transportation) and 3D printers I think the game is changing drastically. If these technologies continue on the path their on a significant portion of the retail life cycle will be rendered obsolete in a decade or so. Technology is a force multiplier, it allows a higher standard of living with less effort. Previously it still “made” jobs because of the higher standard of living, it gave us more stuff to make so we still needed lots of people to make it. But the new techs coming in are dropping the effort level extremely far extremely quickly. When most of what you order from Amazon goes straight to your printer the game will have changed drastically and the number of workers we will need will drop like a stone.
The point is what happens to the increased profits.
They can be invested and create new jobs.
Or they can be taxed and create welfare programs instead.
They can’t do both.
Previously they were invested and new jobs, demands were created.
Now- and these idiots are arguing for more- the increased profits will be diverted to welfare and that will aggravate the very situation these idiots are claiming it will ameliorate!
Idiots rule the world.
Has iTunes and the App Store hurt the economy? This is an example of a fully automated virtual marketplace with virtual products and that produces and delivers each product with no employee intervention. There is no additional work for Apple if the company sells an app to one customer or that same app to 100,000 customers.
That virtual marketplace has created more jobs and built the most successful capitalist company of all time and they employ a large number of people and make money for millions of artists and developers who aren’t even employees.
The automation model has worked almost every time it’s tried.