michael_nielsen

Still searching for the best arguments *against* optimizing for sustainable economic growth (factoring in environment + human rights) + more markets broadly, because that’s what I try to facilitate at work, + want to do so w/ eyes wide open. Speak now or forever hold your peace.https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg/status/1058843792223100928 …

There's a niche strand of thought that says markets are inherently alienating/violence-enducing in some way, although I haven't heard a compelling argument in that direction. If anyone has one, pls drop it here.

I thought the standard argument was social capital based. If lawnmowers are expensive, you borrow one from your neighbours, building community, lessening alienation. If productivity growth brings the price down, you go buy your own. Etc.

TBC, I'm not necessarily endorsing this argument. But I think it (and many, many variants) are very interesting.

Peer-produced goods (like open source software) fit into this in an interesting variation: they sit to some extent outside conventional measures of economic growth, but (arguably) build community and lessen alienation more than closed-source. (Again, not an endorsement.)

"Barn-raising: good for community, but not so great for economic growth" is a common theme in many of these. I've been coy about what I think, but: I do believe there's a genuine and strong tension here.