Re:Automation is set to hit workers in developing countries ...
by coldtea on Wednesday March 29, 2017 @08:29PM
(#13991912)
Actually it's necessary that enough, if not most, things do, else the lost jobs will be lost forever.
But you're worse mistaken than just in quantity: there's no mechanism to make things that can't be automated more expensive. If anything it's exactly the opposite: they'll become cheaper and more plentiful:
a) automation removes N jobs
b) people who previously did those jobs turn to whatever they can find -- and they mainly turn to do what can't be automated.
c) we now have MORE people doing what can't be automated: the people that were already doing it before automation, and the people who lost their jobs and turned to "doing things that can't be automated".
d) Abundance of workers making those things (or offering those services), drives labour costs down, fills the market with those things/services and makes things/services that can't be automated get more devalued.
But you're worse mistaken than just in quantity: there's no mechanism to make things that can't be automated more expensive. If anything it's exactly the opposite: they'll become cheaper and more plentiful:
a) automation removes N jobs
b) people who previously did those jobs turn to whatever they can find -- and they mainly turn to do what can't be automated.
c) we now have MORE people doing what can't be automated: the people that were already doing it before automation, and the people who lost their jobs and turned to "doing things that can't be automated".
d) Abundance of workers making those things (or offering those services), drives labour costs down, fills the market with those things/services and makes things/services that can't be automated get more devalued.