Hacking the economy
Saturday, April 4, 2009 at 8:53PMMy cover story for H+ magazine is right here.
Hacking the economy is easier than it looks.
The first step, of course, is to remember that the economy itself is just a model. It's a way of understanding the world as a series of transactions made by rational, self-interested beings working to maximize value for themselves. That's supposedly the given.
Of course, it isn't even true. We don't live in an economy. Never did. If we were really all playing some sort of poker game for chips — and making all the right decisions —— then our world might behave like an economy. But seeing as how we're really more concerned with our moment-to-moment experience, getting laid, or finding a private place to poop, the last thing on our minds is retention of value over time.
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Reader Comments (2)
Hey Doug! How's it going? I can't help but think that this piece is a little too simplistic. However, I love your angle: it is a good, succinct magazine article.
I noticed 'local currencies' popping up in my local town too. I'm not sure how they work just yet but upon reading this its making me think I should look into it.
Love your style, as ever. Tim :-)
Yes yes. It is more of a provocation (or even a pointer to my 300-page book) more than a complete review of the situation. But I figured writing a short piece for RU Sirius meant dropping a thought bomb and hoping to catch a few brains.