Economist and futurist David Shapiro recently reaffirmed his commitment to market-based solutions within the framework of Post-Labor Economics (PLE), directly addressing skepticism surrounding his approach. Shapiro, a prominent voice on the future of work and automation, argues that centralized economic interventions almost invariably lead to inefficiencies and distortions. His vision for PLE prioritizes maximizing economic efficiency, often through the natural pricing mechanisms of the market.
"Many people have been skeptical or downright hostile that I've focused on market based solutions for Post-Labor Economics," Shapiro stated in a recent tweet. He elaborated, "This is a good example as to why. Top-down, centralized solutions almost always create inefficiencies and economic distortions."
Post-Labor Economics, as conceptualized by Shapiro, aims to liberate human potential by leveraging advanced technologies like automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence to drive economic production. This paradigm seeks to decouple economic progress from human labor bottlenecks, envisioning a future where employment is not a prerequisite for societal participation or economic well-being. The core premise involves optimizing the economy for technological productivity rather than human labor.
Shapiro's market-centric approach to PLE distinguishes it from traditional redistributive models such as socialism or communism, emphasizing the preservation of markets and private property. He proposes various market-based mechanisms to ensure "wealth inclusion through distributed ownership." These innovative property streams include concepts like patronage rebates, carbon royalties, spectrum dividends, civic data trusts, community land funds, and protocol tokens.
The objective of these mechanisms is to create a "buffet of property streams" that allow individuals to derive income and economic agency beyond traditional wage labor or state-provided stipends. Shapiro asserts that the "entire point of PLE is to maximize efficiency, and sometimes that means letting the market price things," underscoring his belief in the market's capacity to allocate resources optimally in an increasingly automated world. His work seeks to forge a new social contract that adapts to the evolving economic landscape shaped by technological advancements.