Comments on: Future Wealth!

By: Karl Hallowell

Karl Hallowell — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 09:18:57 +0000

I don’t quite agree with doctorpat. After all, how do we determine return on investment (ROI) in ancient Sumeria especially since we have no way (as far as I know) to evaluate risk or inflation in those times? But I too agree that the long term risk-free, inflation-adjust ROI (on material investments) will go to zero. Geometric expansion can’t continue in the face of finite resources.

The big unknown as far as I can see is the intangible things. You literally can create worlds with new markets. If at some point, someone creates intangible economic actors (eg, AI or uploaded humans). Then we have some wild stuff going on with the possibility for sustained exponential growth over a period of time.

By: James Bortmas

James Bortmas — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 08:01:06 +0000

Assuming an â€œOld Manâ€™s Warâ€ or â€œLegacy of the Aldenataâ€ scenario dose not occur making the aged eligible for the draft. The education benefit of better employment and thus better pay will allow continued addition to the principle. Just letting the money ride will not cut it. The true benefit is the time to find or train for a job you love to do or can do for a very long time.

By: doctorpat

doctorpat — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 02:07:18 +0000

Unfortunately, the returns available to capital have been falling since capital was invented (50% pa in ancient Summeria).

Widespread eternal youth would only accelerate this effect. If everyone was going to live for centuries, then everyone will invest a lot of money and so the returns will fall to zero.