What do I mean when I say "Post-Labor Economics" anyways?
When machines are better, faster, cheaper, and safer: This creates an economic agency paradox—a death spiral of deflation and collapsed consumer demand. The solution may be tokenomics.
David Shapiro
TLDR - In a nutshell:
The Post-Labor Economic Challenge Better, Faster, Cheaper, Safer: As AI and robotics become superior to humans in both cognitive and physical domains, the economic implications are inescapable. Machines will simply outperform humans at virtually every task, making automation the only economically rational choice. This isn't a choice - it's mathematical inevitability.
Economic Agency Paradox: This creates a critical paradox. While automation promises unprecedented productive efficiency, it simultaneously threatens to eliminate human labor income. Without wages, where does consumer purchasing power come from? Traditional solutions like UBI provide basic subsistence but fail to address the fundamental need for genuine economic participation.
Investment-Based Future: The solution emerges by transforming everyone from laborers into investors in the automated economy. Through AI-assisted investing and universal asset tokenization, people maintain economic agency by directing resources rather than providing labor. Instead of trying to preserve human jobs in an economy that no longer needs them, we create a new form of economic participation.
Core Principles for Implementation: Universal Asset Tokenization: Everything of economic value must become investable through standardized digital tokens, from local businesses to automated infrastructure.
AI-Enhanced Market Agency: Every individual needs AI agents that can analyze opportunities and execute investments aligned with their preferences and values.
Decentralized Infrastructure: Build open protocols and blockchain networks that enable secure, transparent, and efficient market operations.
Legal Framework Modernization: Create new frameworks that enable AI-speed transactions while protecting human economic rights.
Radical Market Transparency: Require real-time, machine-readable disclosure of all market-relevant information.
Democratic Access Guarantees: Ensure everyone has the practical ability to participate through education, technology, and initial capital.
Value Capture Protection: Design systems that direct value to legitimate stakeholders rather than extractive intermediaries.
This isn’t just a patch on capitalism—it’s a fundamental reimagining of economic participation for an automated age. Instead of fighting the inevitable replacement of human labor, we embrace it while ensuring everyone benefits through investment returns and meaningful economic agency.
He has a long article that goes further into depth of these concepts. Also why he doesn't like UBI. (Same reasons why Vyrdists don't.) And why the term Post-Scarcity is inaccurate so he uses Post-Labor instead.
invite response
What do I mean when I say "Post-Labor Economics" anyways?
When machines are better, faster, cheaper, and safer: This creates an economic agency paradox—a death spiral of deflation and collapsed consumer demand. The solution may be tokenomics.
David Shapiro
TLDR - In a nutshell:
The Post-Labor Economic Challenge
Better, Faster, Cheaper, Safer: As AI and robotics become superior to humans in both cognitive and physical domains, the economic implications are inescapable. Machines will simply outperform humans at virtually every task, making automation the only economically rational choice. This isn't a choice - it's mathematical inevitability.
Economic Agency Paradox: This creates a critical paradox. While automation promises unprecedented productive efficiency, it simultaneously threatens to eliminate human labor income. Without wages, where does consumer purchasing power come from? Traditional solutions like UBI provide basic subsistence but fail to address the fundamental need for genuine economic participation.
Investment-Based Future: The solution emerges by transforming everyone from laborers into investors in the automated economy. Through AI-assisted investing and universal asset tokenization, people maintain economic agency by directing resources rather than providing labor. Instead of trying to preserve human jobs in an economy that no longer needs them, we create a new form of economic participation.
Core Principles for Implementation:
Universal Asset Tokenization: Everything of economic value must become investable through standardized digital tokens, from local businesses to automated infrastructure.
AI-Enhanced Market Agency: Every individual needs AI agents that can analyze opportunities and execute investments aligned with their preferences and values.
Decentralized Infrastructure: Build open protocols and blockchain networks that enable secure, transparent, and efficient market operations.
Legal Framework Modernization: Create new frameworks that enable AI-speed transactions while protecting human economic rights.
Radical Market Transparency: Require real-time, machine-readable disclosure of all market-relevant information.
Democratic Access Guarantees: Ensure everyone has the practical ability to participate through education, technology, and initial capital.
Value Capture Protection: Design systems that direct value to legitimate stakeholders rather than extractive intermediaries.
This isn’t just a patch on capitalism—it’s a fundamental reimagining of economic participation for an automated age. Instead of fighting the inevitable replacement of human labor, we embrace it while ensuring everyone benefits through investment returns and meaningful economic agency.
He has a long article that goes further into depth of these concepts. Also why he doesn't like UBI. (Same reasons why Vyrdists don't.) And why the term Post-Scarcity is inaccurate so he uses Post-Labor instead.
https://daveshap.substack.com/p/what-do-i-mean-when-i-say-post-labor