Re: An impending economic singularity? [Re: Singularity: Vinge

Damien Broderick (damien@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au)
Sat, 19 Sep 1998 00:59:37 +0000

At 11:46 AM 9/18/98 +0100, Charlie Stross wrote wisely:

>Let's just say it's a potlach economy.

>In which case, of course, we have an economic singularity.

>Any opinions?

Spot on, IMHO. In fact, it's the argument I made in THE SPIKE, pp. 116-9, in the sections `Would you work without pay?' and `Potlatch beats greed'. (It assumes, of course, that a lot of money will first be invested in building the early mints or matter compilers - but capitalism should have no trouble doing *that* much, since there'll be profits to made on the way to the Titanic's glug-glug-glug.

Damien Broderick